Latin American leaders are reclaiming a right to differentiate their views from Washington's—and refusing to render it diplomatic tribute.
Issues / Drugs
The governments of Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico all called for developing more effective responses to drug trafficking based on promoting public health, respect for human rights, and harm reduction.
The western hemisphere’s preoccupation with the drug war is sapping resources that could be better employed to meet other security challenges.
Although known for decades for its oppressive behavior, Myanmar's government is capable of very little when it comes to conserving natural resources, promoting development, and protecting citizens.
Drug policy reforms in Latin America will come from below.
The war on the narcotraffickers also serves as a pretext for militarizing areas of Mexico that have strong traditions of social resistance.
There are good reasons to be cynical about the return of the PRI in Mexico. Even so, when it comes to human rights in Mexico, there's plenty of room for improvement.
Obama will need to recast a foreign policy that has been weak or downright contradictory in standing up for the principles he himself has espoused
In the foreign policy debates between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, expect these issues to get short thrift.
Mexican families touched by the drug war have brought their Caravan for Peace to the U.S., laying the groundwork for a binational peace movement.