Colombia ‘facing foreign threat’

Posted by Matt in December 20th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Americas, Conflict, Venezuela, Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English, Bogota, Caracas, Colombia, Columbia, Drug Operations, Hugo Chavez, Latin American, Military Bases, Nbsp, Neighbour, Presence, Tensions, Venezuelan President

Tensions between Bogota and Caracas have soared since Colombia signed a deal giving US troops greater access to seven military bases for anti-drug operations.
Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, says the presence of US troops in his Latin American neighbour poses a threat to his country and has ordered his forces to “prepare for war”.

Al Jazeera English – [...]

Is Panama to be Latin America’s Diamond Smuggling Hub?

Posted by Matt in November 2nd, 2009 | no comment

Published in Americas, Diamond Center, Diamond Exports, Diamond Smuggling, Diamonds, DiamondSmugging, Fellow, Hub, International Assessment, Kimberley Process, Large Scale, Latin American, Latin-America, Money Laundering, Panama History, Producers, Rich History, SmugglingDiamonds, Strategy Center, Transparent, Venezuela

“Given Panama’s rich history as a center for both money laundering and smuggling on a very large scale, coupled with Venezuela’s demonstrated unwillingness to be transparent in its diamond exports and withdrawal from the Kimberley Process, I am very concerned about the smuggling of diamonds through Panama,” Doug Farah, a senior fellow with the International [...]

Venezuela to Sell Iran 20,000 Barrels Per Day of Gasoline

Posted by Matt in September 17th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Iran, Venezuela, Chavez Of Venezuela, Chavez Venezuela, Failure, Gasoline, Herald Tribune, Iran, Latin American, Nations Security Council, Nuclear Program, President Chavez, Signs, United Nations, United Nations Security, United Nations Security Council, Us Congress

As the United Nations Security Council and US Congress discuss the possibility of banning the export of gasoline to Iran for its failure to comply with talks on its controverted nuclear program, President Chavez of Venezuela signs a deal to provide Iran, which, though rich in oil, must import 40% of its gasoline, with 20,000 [...]

What’s Behind Ahmadinejad’s Abrupt Cancellation of Latin American Trip?

Posted by Matt in May 10th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Americas, Brazil, Iran, ahmadinejad, Brazil, Businessmen, Cancel, Cancellation, Constituents, Ecuador, Entourage, Freedom, Intelligence Operatives, Latin American, Lula, Protests, Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paolo, Theocrat, Tolerance, Venezuela

And many of his [Lula's] constituents are unhappy with the visit by a conservative, homophobic, anti-Semitic theocrat. Somehow that seems to clash with the values of tolerance, freedom and progress that Brazil prides itself on. Following protests in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo last week, Lula apparently pulled the plug.
So, the entourage of more [...]

Chile – The Real Latin American Powerhouse

Posted by Matt in April 29th, 2009 | 1 comment

Published in Americas, American Political Leader, Banks, Boom, Budget Deficits, Chile, Chile Economy, Downturn, Finance Minister, Financial Crisis, Financial Irresponsibility, Foreign Currency, Foresight, Gdp, Global Financial Crisis, Government Programs, Gross Domestic Product, Investors, Latin American, Michelle Bachelet, Powerhouse, President Michelle Bachelet, Rich Copper, S Gross, Subsidies, Tax Cuts, Throng

Chile is the only investment-grade country to be upgraded by Moody’s since the financial crisis began almost two years ago. The ratings agency also boosted the foreign currency ratings of four major Chilean banks.
There are two reasons why Chile’s economy, while not exactly vibrant at the moment, has caught the eye of Moody’s and a [...]

When the Mexican Drug Trade Hits the Border

Posted by Matt in April 15th, 2009 | 1 comment

Published in Mexico, Cartel, Drug Traffickers, Fred Burton, Gang Involvement, Gangs, Gaps, Interdiction, Latin American, Mexican Cartels, Move Product, Narcotics, Parcels, Retail Distribution, Retail Level, Retail Market, Smuggler, Southern Mexico, Tonnage, Trafficking, Violence In Mexico, Wholesale Shipments

By Fred Burton and Ben West at Stratfor.Com
For several years now, STRATFOR has been closely monitoring the growing violence in Mexico and its links to the drug trade. In December, our cartel report assessed the situation in Mexico, and two weeks ago we looked closely at the networks that control the flow of drugs through [...]

Ecuador Targets a U.S. Air Base

Posted by Matt in May 14th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Americas, Colombian Guerrillas, Colombian Military, Ecuador, Ecuadorian President, Freddy, Incursion, Intelligence Agencies, Latin American, Manta, Manta Air Base, Manta Ecuador, March 1, Pacific Coast, President Rafael Correa, Quito, Rafael Correa, S Pacific, Security Expert, Social Sciences Faculty, South American Nation, Suspicions, U S Air, U S Air Force

When the Colombian military made its controversial incursion into neighboring Ecuador two months ago, it may well have removed more than just a camp full of leftist Colombian guerrillas. The raid may wind up taking out a $70 million U.S. Air Force base as well. On Monday, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said he’s “convinced” the [...]

US Navy Deploys Around Latin America

Posted by Matt in May 6th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Americas, Military, U.S., American Military Base, Argentina, Brazil, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula, Caribbean Waters, Ecuador, Fleet, Inacio, Latin American, Latin-America, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, Lula Da Silva, Mandate, Manta, Navy, Pentagon, President Luiz Inacio Lula, President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva

The Pentagon is going to resuscitate its Fourth Fleet, with the mission of patrolling Latin American and Caribbean waters.
…
The plan to install a military base in Paraguay, close to Bolivian gas fields, was denounced by Brazil and Argentina. Ecuador has made it known that the American military base installed in Manta until 2009 will not [...]