Foreign Policy and National Security
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Despite repeated denials by the government that Argentina has a problem with drugs, including President Cristina Kirchner’s assertion this week that her country is neither a producer nor a consumer of illicit substances, there is some evidence the country may finally be coming to terms with the issue… Read this piece in its entirety at Southern Pulse.
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Mexico’s plan to incorporate citizen self-defense forces known as “autodefensas” into its official security strategy in the state of Michoacán is going about as well as expected. While the militias had some success in rolling back the influence of the Knights Templar cartel in their state, their reputation has been marred by deadly infighting among various factions,…
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In remarks delivered to the Freedom Online Coalition Conference via teleconference yesterday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said, “In Venezuela, the government has used security forces to disrupt peaceful protests and limit freedoms of expression and assembly. And this has included blocking access to selected websites and limiting access to internet service in certain…
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Buenaventura, Colombia has been racked by violence and crime for years. The port city is strategically important for drug traffickers, and a recent turf war between rival gangs has contributed to the bloodshed. Last month, a “shock plan” was proposed to bring new development projects to the area. This was accompanied by a “militarization” of the city, with the…
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Cross-posted with Conflict Journal This is a weekly roundup of events from 20 April to 26 April 2014. The UN Special Rapporteur for Torture, Juan Méndez, arrived in Mexico to begin an investigation into the country’s penal reforms and other aspects of the country’s law enforcement and justice systems. His visit is expected to last until May 2. Despite thousands…
Mike LaSusa 