Tuesday SITREP: Americas Focus

Good morning,

🇪🇸 🇵🇹 Blackout Hits Spain and Portugal

A massive power outage hit Spain and Portugal on Monday, reaching the 12-hour mark with only 50% of supply restored and no clear cause identified despite losing 15 gigawatts in just five seconds. Spanish PM Sanchez warned of a "long night ahead" while declaring a state of emergency in eight regions, as the unprecedented blackout stranded 35,000 train passengers and raised questions about grid stability amid Europe's renewable energy transition. Portugal's PM Montenegro expected full restoration within hours. More - Bloomberg

🇨🇩 DRC-M23 Ceasefire Announced

The Democratic Republic of Congo government and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have agreed to a cessation of hostilities during peace talks mediated by Qatar, following a surprise meeting between Congolese President Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Kagame. Despite the agreement, reports of continued clashes highlight the fragility of the truce, with deeper discussions expected in Doha in coming weeks. The conflict has killed thousands since January's M23 offensive captured DRC's two largest cities, with at least six previous truces having collapsed since 2021. More - Al Jazeera

More Unstable

🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇧🇧 Barbados, 🇧🇿 Belize, 🇧🇴 Bolivia, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇨🇺 Cuba, 🇩🇲 Dominica, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic, 🇪🇨 Ecuador, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇬🇹 Guatemala, 🇬🇾 Guyana, 🇭🇹 Haiti, 🇭🇳 Honduras, 🇯🇲 Jamaica, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua, 🇵🇦 Panama, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia, 🇸🇷 Suriname, 🇧🇸 The Bahamas, 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago, 🇺🇸 United States Of America, 🇻🇪 Venezuela

More Stable

No countries were more stable over this period

Unchanged

🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇬🇩 Grenada, 🇵🇾 Paraguay, 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis, 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 🇺🇾 Uruguay

Regional News Summary

Brazil's President Lula is currently navigating a diplomatic rift with Ukraine as he plans a visit to Moscow, which has raised tensions between the two nations. Concurrently, Brazil and Chile have accelerated their ambitious $12.5 billion trade corridor project, signing 13 agreements aimed at enhancing infrastructure and trade, including key defense collaborations. This initiative is expected to bolster economic ties and regional stability [SOURCE - The Rio Times].

On the judicial front, Brazil's Supreme Court is reviewing charges against allies of former President Bolsonaro in coup proceedings, reflecting ongoing political turbulence in the country [SOURCE - ABC News]. Economically, industry leaders predict a deceleration in Brazil's economy by 2025, compounded by scrutiny of fuel mafias involved in money laundering operations at gas stations [SOURCE - The Conversation].

In Mexico, the economic outlook faces challenges as the country grapples with trade headwinds and the implementation of textile tariffs, signaling a shift towards industrial protectionism [SOURCE - The Rio Times]. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has demanded that Mexico address sewage flooding into San Diego's waters, highlighting ongoing environmental concerns [SOURCE - Legal Insurrection]. Additionally, gunmen have wreaked havoc across Mexico, torching vehicles and blocking roads amid a cartel turf war, underscoring the persistent security crisis [SOURCE - CBS News].

Colombia is also facing significant challenges, with President Gustavo Petro claiming that the Trump administration revoked his U.S. visa, a move that has sparked controversy [SOURCE - New York Post]. The country is investing heavily in its yellow fever emergency response, allocating at least $140 million to combat the outbreak [SOURCE - Colombia Reports]. Furthermore, Colombia is focusing on enhancing its military capabilities by prioritizing drone manufacturing, a strategic move to bolster national defense [SOURCE - Rio Times].

Carpe tomorrow!