Good morning,

As a reminder, it’s just the ratings and regional news summaries this week while I’m on leave.

Americas Stability Ratings and News Summary

More Unstable

🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇧🇿 Belize, 🇧🇴 Bolivia, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇨🇺 Cuba, 🇩🇲 Dominica, 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic, 🇪🇨 Ecuador, 🇸🇻 El Salvador, 🇬🇹 Guatemala, 🇬🇾 Guyana, 🇭🇹 Haiti, 🇭🇳 Honduras, 🇯🇲 Jamaica, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇳🇮 Nicaragua, 🇵🇪 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, 🇧🇧 Barbados, 🇨🇷 Costa Rica, 🇬🇩 Grenada, 🇵🇦 Panama, 🇵🇾 Paraguay, 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis, 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 🇺🇾 Uruguay

Regional News Summary

Brazil is currently navigating a complex landscape in its international relations, particularly with the United States. The Brazilian government has disputed the legitimacy of a US trade probe and is seeking intervention from the World Trade Organization (WTO) to address these concerns. Despite Brazil's pushback against the US Section 301 trade probe, it finds itself at a disadvantage as the US maintains significant leverage in these negotiations. In a notable ruling, Brazil's top court has declared that US laws do not apply within its territory, further complicating the bilateral relationship [SOURCE - The Sun].

On the economic front, Brazil's tourism sector is experiencing record growth, yet the aquaculture industry faces a crisis due to US tariffs that are severely impacting tilapia exports and squeezing profit margins. In response, the Brazilian government has introduced an emergency package aimed at bolstering the economy against these external pressures [SOURCE - Undercurrent News].

Political turmoil continues to plague Brazil, with former President Jair Bolsonaro and his family embroiled in corruption allegations. Reports indicate that Bolsonaro contemplated seeking asylum in Argentina amid ongoing investigations, which have intensified scrutiny on his political dynasty [SOURCE - BBC].

In Mexico, the political landscape is equally tumultuous. President Claudia Sheinbaum has denied US claims of a joint anti-cartel operation, which has sparked tensions between the two nations. The Pentagon's reported plans for strikes against Mexican cartels have drawn criticism and raised concerns about the potential fallout [SOURCE - France 24]. Additionally, the US has issued a travel advisory for Mexico due to rising crime rates, further complicating the bilateral relationship [SOURCE - The Economic Times].

In economic developments, Mexico has achieved significant growth in foreign direct investment and has outpaced the US in auto exports to Canada, marking a notable shift in trade dynamics [SOURCE - Mexico News Daily]. However, the country is grappling with the fallout from heavy rains and flooding, which have resulted in fatalities and widespread damage [SOURCE - Hurriyet Daily News].

In Argentina, the political and economic landscape is fraught with challenges. The government’s austerity measures have faced significant opposition, particularly after Congress blocked the appointment of a key economic reformer. This impasse raises concerns about Argentina's ability to implement necessary reforms [SOURCE - Rio Times]. Concurrently, the poultry industry has suffered setbacks due to Hong Kong suspending imports over sanitary concerns, exacerbating the economic situation [SOURCE - Hong Kong Government].

As tensions rise in Venezuela, the US has deployed warships near its waters, citing the need to combat drug trafficking. President Nicolás Maduro has mobilized a significant militia force in response, framing the US actions as an attempt at regime change [SOURCE - TASS]. Meanwhile, Bolivia is shifting rightward after decades of left-leaning rule. [SOURCE - The Conversation].

In Colombia, violent attacks attributed to FARC dissidents have left dozens dead, underscoring the ongoing security crisis in the country. The violence has prompted concerns about the effectiveness of the government's strategies to combat drug trafficking and restore order [SOURCE - The City Paper Bogota].

Carpe tomorrow!