February 25, 2019
Western Hemisphere Regional
- Missy Ryan, “At Southern Border, Acting Pentagon Chief Offers Support for Trump’s Border Plan” (The Washington Post, February 25, 2019).
Shanahan said his conversations with officials from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and observations at sites in Texas and New Mexico had underscored the role the military can play
- Jeremy Raff, “The Chapel at the Border” (The Atlantic, February 25, 2019).
A “cowboy priest” confronts the wall and the military presence on the banks of the Rio Grande
- Ellen Nakashima, “Former Senior National Security Officials to Issue Declaration on National Emergency” (The Washington Post, February 25, 2019).
A bipartisan group of 58 former senior national security officials will issue a statement Monday saying that “there is no factual basis” for President Trump’s proclamation of a national emergency to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border
Bolivia
- “Evo Morales Dejara el Poder el 2025 Si Gana las Elecciones de Octubre” (La Republica (Peru), February 25, 2019).
Evo Morales tuvo el respaldo de la mayoría de los bolivianos, que le otorgaron el 35% de las preferencias frente al 31% de su contendor, el expresidente Carlos Mesa
Brazil, Venezuela
- Clavel Rangel, Dom Phillips, Emily Costa, Emma Graham-Harrison, “‘Venezuelan Blood Is Being Spilled’: Tension Flares Near Border With Brazil” (The Guardian (Uk), February 25, 2019).
It was the remote frontier with Brazil that saw the worst violence and the boldest – though unfounded – claims of success in getting aid into Venezuela
Brazil
- “Militar Brasileiro Assumira Subcomando Do Exercito Sul Dos Eua” (Veja (Brazil), February 25, 2019).
Subordinado ao Comando Sul, o general de 52 anos de idade estará encarregado da áreas de assistência humanitária e de alívio de desastres do Exército Sul americano
Colombia
- Javier AlexÁnder MacÍas, “En Procesos de Paz los Ilegales se Aprovechan para Crecer: Martinez” (El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), February 25, 2019).
Martínez habló con EL COLOMBIANO sobre la seguridad del país y sobre los planes que tienen desde el Gobierno para contrarrestar el accionar delictivo de grupos ilegales
Colombia, Venezuela
- Jose Guarnizo, “Entrevista Exclusiva: Hay una Manipulacion del Termino ‘Humanitario’, Cicr Sobre Ayudas a la Frontera” (Semana (Colombia), February 25, 2019).
Para el CICR las donaciones que están varadas ahora en la frontera entre Colombia y Venezuela, no deberían ser llamadas ‘ayudas humanitarias’, dado que no están supeditadas por los principios de la imparcialidad y neutralidad
Cuba
- Mimi Whitefield, Nora Gamez Torres, “Cubans Vote on a New Constitution as Government Campaigns Hard for Approval” (The Miami Herald, February 25, 2019).
While the outcome of the referendum isn’t really in doubt, the percentage of who will vote for ratification is. It’s not expected to approach the 97.6 percent approval rate the current constitution got
Guatemala
- Mary Beth Sheridan, Sandra Cuffe, “An Amnesty for Crimes Against Humanity? Guatemalan Proposal Stirs Outrage.” (The Washington Post, February 25, 2019).
The bill would allow former army officers who committed abuses during the country’s 36-year war to go free
Mexico
- Enrique Méndez, “La Guardia Nacional No Tendra Fuero Militar Ni Contara Con Armas de Uso Exclusivo del Ejercito” (La Jornada (Mexico), February 25, 2019).
La Comisión de Puntos Constitucionales de la Cámara de Diputados avalará mañana, sin cambios, el dictamen a la minuta del Senado para crear la Guardia Nacional
- Amy Stillman, Nacha Cattan, “Amlo’s Attack on Regulator Stirs Concern Dissent Being Silenced” (Bloomberg, February 25, 2019).
While it’s not uncommon for the leftist firebrand known as AMLO to attack regulators and autonomous agencies, he doesn’t usually call out specific people, much less target them with multiple probes
Venezuela
- Andrew Rosati, Oscar Medina, Samy Adghirni, “Guaido Hints at More Radical Steps to Topple Maduro as Aid Burns” (Bloomberg, February 25, 2019).
Guaido is walking a delicate line. While saber-rattling could unnerve some in the top ranks of Maduro’s military and speed up defections, threats of foreign military intervention, especially involving the U.S., would likely strengthen Maduro’s stance among his shrinking base
- Albinson Linares, Nicholas Casey, “With Aid Blocked at Border, What’s Next Move for Venezuela’s Opposition?” (The New York Times, February 25, 2019).
Those scenes, however, were ones that the opposition had sought to avoid
- Jose De Cordoba, Ryan Dube, “Maduro’s Opposition Urges Military Force in Venezuela” (The Wall Street Journal, February 25, 2019).
Proposals for increased pressure on the authoritarian leader will be made during a meeting on Monday in the Colombian capital Bogotá
- Emma Graham-Harrison, Joe Parkin Daniels, “Venezuela: Guaido Wants ‘All Options’ Open as He Meets Pence” (The Guardian (Uk), February 25, 2019).
Analysts warn there is a serious risk of sliding into armed conflict, and say many of those pushing for intervention are underestimating the cost and possible impact of sending foreign troops to Venezuela
- Christine Armario, Joshua Goodman, “Maduro Opponents Boost Military Rhetoric in Venezuela Crisis” (Associated Press, The Washington Post, February 25, 2019).
It’s a prospect that analysts warn risks fracturing a hard-won coalition of Latin American nations who’ve come together to pressure Maduro’s socialist government
- Alex Leff, Carrie Kahn, “Trump’s Venezuela Moves Follow Long History of Intervention in Latin America” (National Public Radio, February 25, 2019).
Even for some of Maduro’s enemies, Washington’s efforts to oust the Venezuelan leader raise concern because of the history of U.S. intervention in the region