Latin America is currently undergoing unprecedented political shifts. This phenomenon is characterized by the recent electoral victories of left-ofcenter candidates in Mexico in 2018; Argentina in 2019; Peru, Honduras, and Chile in 2021; and in Brazil and Colombia in 2022, and the consolidation of power by authoritarian populist regimes in Venezuela and Nicaragua. It has also witnessed the emergence of non-left populist regimes, exemplified by the Nayib Bukele regime in El Salvador, which are less inclined to cooperate with US (US) principles on democracy and human rights. On the other hand, regimes elected to power in Argentina, Ecuador, and Paraguay in 2023, have adopted a strongly pro-US orientation, rejecting political partnerships with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and other extra-hemispheric actors, and have looked to the US for help in addressing grave economic, security, and other challenges. In both Chile and Peru, regimes with politically left-of-center political orientations have proven strong allies of the US in the region, yet face serious internal political and socioeconomic challenges.
Background image adapted from COVID map on Freepik (