Latin America

The following are internal Stratfor documents produced to provide high-level guidance to our analysts. These documents are not forecasts, but rather a series of guidelines for understanding and evaluating events, as well as suggestions on areas for focus. [more]

Virtually every country has organized crime. Geography, infrastructure and the strength of the government determine how pervasive it will be. [more]

After a short spate of relative calm, the wars between Mexico’s drug cartels and the government have been ratcheting up again — and there are indications that someone may be circulating rumors in an attempt to capture Washington’s attention. [more]

The Argentine Senate did not pass a bill enforcing high export taxes on agricultural goods, though the bill was backed by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. [more]

The rejection by Argentina's Senate of an agricultural export tax has widespread implications for the South American country. [more]

An emotional tie-breaker ends the political gridlock in Argentina over highly controversial export taxes on staple foodstuffs. After four months of protests, the farmers have won this round — but is there more drama to come? [more]

Evidence indicating suspected drug traffickers used butane canisters to detonate a car suggests the cartels have adopted improvised incendiary devices in their increasingly brutal struggles. [more]

Argentina has doubled the price of the natural gas it sells to Chile, passing on the costs of a declining industry to its neighbor. This will only be a short-term fix, however, as Chile looks forward to a future of diversified natural-gas sourcing on the global market. [more]

Violence between drug traffickers and U.S. Border Patrol agents on the U.S.-Mexican border has increased 22 percent so far this year -- but that growth is slower than the increase in violent incidents seen in 2007.(With Stratfor map). [more]

Violence related to the drug trade is rampant in Mexico, where gunmen are every bit as brutal as the death squads in Iraq. The Mexico Security Memo is a weekly summary report concerning instability and key incidents. (With Stratfor interactive map) [more]

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met for the first time in months July 11. [more]

Argentina is now relying on natural gas imports -- a development that will threaten the government's ability to meet the population's most basic needs. [more]

The following are internal Stratfor documents produced to provide high-level guidance to our analysts. These documents are not forecasts, but rather a series of guidelines for understanding and evaluating events, as well as suggestions on areas for focus. [more]

The seizure of several Ecuadorian media outlets -- ostensibly because of a decade-old bankruptcy dispute -- raises questions about the stability of the government. [more]

Violence related to the drug trade is rampant in Mexico, where gunmen are every bit as brutal as the death squads in Iraq. The Mexico Security Memo is a weekly summary report concerning instability and key incidents. (With Stratfor interactive map) [more]

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro's comments about the release of hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia could signal that Cuba is considering its neighbors' opinions more than it did before. [more]

Production at Mexico's Cantarell oil field has plummeted in the past year, indicating that time is running out for energy reform in Mexico. [more]

The following are internal Stratfor documents produced to provide high-level guidance to our analysts. These documents are not forecasts, but rather a series of guidelines for understanding and evaluating events, as well as suggestions on areas for focus. [more]

After its July 2 rescue of captives from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the government will look toward the next step in its security campaign: eliminating the drug trade. [more]

The rescue of several high-profile hostages by Colombian forces is a huge boost for the government in its struggle against Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. [more]