Interviews – Inter-American Dialogue

Cecilia Farfán-Méndez: “The evidence shows that this kind of kingpin strategy is not particularly useful or robust in weakening or eliminating the activity of a criminal group.”

Mexico Program Non-Resident Senior Fellow Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, talked with Organized Crime Dispatch (by GI-TOC) regarding the recent military operation in Mexico that resulted in the capture and death of the high-profile Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) leader, “El Mencho.”

Ana Kourchenko February 25, 2026

Chavez: “The outcome of the meeting between President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro was the best we could have hoped for, given the importance of the U.S.–Colombia relationship and the tensions that preceded it.”

On February 3, President and CEO of the Inter-American Dialogue, Rebecca Bill Chavez, spoke with BBC News following the meeting between President Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro.On February 3, President and CEO of the Inter-American Dialogue, Rebecca Bill Chavez, spoke with BBC News following the meeting between President Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro.

Juanita Caballero February 4, 2026

What Will Shape Brazil’s 2026 Elections? Brazil Program Launches Ground Truth: Elections 2026

The Brazil Program at the Inter-American Dialogue has launched Ground Truth: Elections 2026, a year-long featured project focused on the 2026 electoral cycles in Brazil and the United States.

Giulia Branco Spiess February 4, 2026

Santos: “Brazil is one of the few countries that can turn minerals plus clean power into a true green industrial platform”

The director of the Brazil Program, Bruna Santos, participated in BrazilCham Talks: Episode #4 – “Energy Transition and Critical Minerals: The Case for Closer Brazil–US Collaboration”.

Giulia Branco Spiess January 15, 2026

Chavez: “Cuba and Venezuela form a close authoritarian alliance focused on regime survival, with Cuba supplying key intelligence and security support. The deaths of 32 Cuban operatives during the operation to remove Maduro show how intertwined they are.”

On January 13, President and CEO of the Inter-American Dialogue Rebecca Bill Chavez spoke with DW News to discuss why China and Russia are closely watching Trump’s threats to Cuba.

Juanita Caballero January 14, 2026

Chavez: “One thing to note is that Maduro is out of Venezuela, but Madurismo remains in place.”

On January 10, Rebecca Bill Chavez, president and CEO of the Inter‑American Dialogue, spoke with Bloomberg Television to discuss the competitive geopolitical factors that influenced the U.S. Venezuela move.

Juanita Caballero January 13, 2026

Santos: “Brazilian diplomacy therefore needs to carefully separate two layers: defending the principles of the UN Charter and pragmatically managing the relationship with the US.”

In an interview with Deutsche Welle, Bruna Santos, director of the Brazil Program, argues that the challenge facing Brasília is not one of rhetorical balance but of strategic calibration.

Gemma Givens January 9, 2026

Myers: “China may very much be left holding the check as concerns outstanding Venezuelan debt.”

On January 7, Margaret Myers, senior advisor of the Inter-American Dialogue’s Asia & Latin America Program, spoke with BBC news about the China-Venezuela relations after Maduro’s removal from power.

Yifang Wang January 8, 2026

Shannon Jr.: “This is not an effort at regime change, but an effort at leadership change in Venezuela”

Dialogue Board Co-Chair Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. discusses the Trump administration’s developing approach to Venezuela days after it announced the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown.”

Gemma Givens January 7, 2026

Chavez: “We have not heard a long-term plan to reestablish democratic institutions, set an electoral timeline, or address the stolen 2024 election, and restoring democracy is a prerequisite for improving living conditions in Venezuela.”

On January, president and CEO of the Inter-American Dialogue, Rebecca Bill Chavez, spoke with DW News to discuss what comes next after the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

Juanita Caballero January 6, 2026

From Production to Consumption: Japan–Latin America Cooperation in Food and Agriculture

Asia & Latin America

Brazil

education

energy transition & Climate

Mexico

Migration, Remittances & Development

peter d. bell rule of law

cities

Hemispheric Security

Women & Girls

Analysis Type: Interviews

Cecilia Farfán-Méndez: “The evidence shows that this kind of kingpin strategy is not particularly useful or robust in weakening or eliminating the activity of a criminal group.”

Chavez: “The outcome of the meeting between President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro was the best we could have hoped for, given the importance of the U.S.–Colombia relationship and the tensions that preceded it.”

What Will Shape Brazil’s 2026 Elections? Brazil Program Launches Ground Truth: Elections 2026

Santos: “Brazil is one of the few countries that can turn minerals plus clean power into a true green industrial platform”

Chavez: “Cuba and Venezuela form a close authoritarian alliance focused on regime survival, with Cuba supplying key intelligence and security support. The deaths of 32 Cuban operatives during the operation to remove Maduro show how intertwined they are.”

Chavez: “One thing to note is that Maduro is out of Venezuela, but Madurismo remains in place.”

Santos: “Brazilian diplomacy therefore needs to carefully separate two layers: defending the principles of the UN Charter and pragmatically managing the relationship with the US.”

Myers: “China may very much be left holding the check as concerns outstanding Venezuelan debt.”

Shannon Jr.: “This is not an effort at regime change, but an effort at leadership change in Venezuela”

Chavez: “We have not heard a long-term plan to reestablish democratic institutions, set an electoral timeline, or address the stolen 2024 election, and restoring democracy is a prerequisite for improving living conditions in Venezuela.”

© 2026 Inter-American Dialogue

Use of Digital Financial Applications for Payments in Central America

Asia & Latin America

Brazil

education

energy transition & Climate

Mexico

Migration, Remittances & Development

peter d. bell rule of law

cities

Hemispheric Security

Women & Girls

Analysis Type: Interviews

The Inter-American Dialogue MEXICO Program

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER / SUSCRÍBASE A NUESTRO BOLETÍN:

* indicates required

The Inter-American Dialogue BRAZIL Program

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER / SUSCRÍBASE A NUESTRO BOLETÍN:

* indicates required

Subscribe To Latin America Advisors

* indicates required field

The Inter-American Dialogue Education Program

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER / SUSCRÍBASE A NUESTRO BOLETÍN:

* indicates required

Subscribe To
Latin America Advisors