(Even more here)

January 31, 2018

Colombia

• Kyle Johnson, “¿Que Pasa Con el Eln?” (International Crisis Group, La Silla Vacia (Colombia), January 31, 2018).

Todo por ahora depende de la respuesta del ELN, y si internamente se puede poner de acuerdo

• “Bombing Near Indigenous Territory in Choco” (Amnesty International, January 31, 2018).

While carrying out operations against the National Liberation Army (ELN), the Colombian Security Forces bombed near the Wounaan Indigenous reservation of Chagpien Tordó, in the municipality of Litoral de San Juán in Chocó, injuring a minor

• ““Operativo en Choco se Hizo Bajo las Normas del Dih”: Mindefensa” (Colprensa, El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), January 31, 2018).

El pronunciamiento se dio después de una serie de denuncias presentadas esta martes, por un bombardeo que posiblemente afectó el resguardo indígena Chagpien Tordó

El Salvador

• Jose Miguel Cruz, “Trump Is Wrong About Ms-13. His Rhetoric Will Make It Worse.” (The Washington Post, January 31, 2018).

The combined effects of Trump’s war on immigrants and street gangs will create communities that are even more alienated from law enforcement and more isolated from the institutions that can protect

Guatemala

• Jennyfer Hernandez, “U.S. Donation Increases Guatemala’s Armored Vehicle Force” (Revista Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), January 31, 2018).

The donation consisted of 41 J8 Jeeps, 32 Polaris Rangers, 12 9.5-ton and eight 12-ton trucks, and 12 trailers. In addition, the Guatemalan Army received two transport buses and one minibus

Mexico

• Fabiola Martinez, “Reforzara el Gobierno Federal los Operativos en la Frontera Sur” (La Jornada (Mexico), January 31, 2018).

El gobierno federal reforzará los operativos de seguridad en la frontera sur y, en breve, inaugurará un cuartel militar en Chicomuselo, Chiapas

• Rafael Carranza, “On the Border, Trump’s State of the Union Sounds Like Either ‘Compromise’ or ‘Blackmail’” (The Arizona Republic, January 31, 2018).

“I don’t agree with it. I take it as if we’re bad neighbors,” she added. “I see it as a bad thing, because it’s like we’re discriminating against the other country”

• Jean Guerrero, “Border Communities React to Trump’s State of the Union Address” (KPBS (Los Angeles), January 31, 2018).

Some San Diego residents were happy about Trump’s mention of the wall, particularly in East County’s rural areas, where much of the illegal cross-border traffic was pushed

• NoÉ Zavaleta, “Titular de la Sedena Supervisa Retenes de Seguridad en Veracruz; Aparecen Narcomantas” (Proceso (Mexico), January 31, 2018).

El funcionario admitió que hoy Veracruz no se encuentra en “estado óptimo de seguridad”

• Shannon O’neil, “Mexico’s Voters Have Bigger Problems Than Trump” (Bloomberg, January 31, 2018).

Faster and more inclusive economic growth will remain out of reach until the nation can enforce basic legal rules

• Kylie Atwood, “Rubio, Menendez Express Concern About Russian Influence in Mexican Election to Tillerson” (CBS News, January 31, 2018).

“We write to urge you to raise the importance of strong, independent electoral systems in Mexico and Latin America more broadly,” write Senators Marco Rubio, R-Florida, and Senator Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey

• Joshua Partlow, “Rex Tillerson Visits Mexico as Bilateral Ties Hit Their Lowest Point in Years” (The Washington Post, January 31, 2018).

So far, those partnerships have not fundamentally changed, current and former officials said

Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

• Jonathan Franklin, “Venezuelan Pirates Rule the Most Lawless Market on Earth” (Bloomberg, January 31, 2018).

Their industry all but destroyed, former fishermen now run guns one way, diapers another

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Ben Raderstorf, Michael J. Camilleri, “Latin America’s Unusual Leadership Vacuum” (Inter-American Dialogue, Americas Quarterly, January 31, 2018).

The overwhelming sense is that the Americas at present are experiencing a geopolitical lull – free from major battles for regional influence, perhaps, but also devoid of any vision