Juan Cruz

Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Americas Program and Director, Argentina-U.S. Strategic Forum
Juan Cruz

Juan Cruz joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies in 2019 as non-resident senior adviser. Since October 2020, he has also served as director of the Argentina-U.S. Strategic Forum. The forum, which began in 2017, is a binational platform where issues relevant to both countries are discussed to shape a positive agenda that fosters a dynamic relationship—regardless of the administration in power in either country. From 2017 to 2019, Cruz worked with the National Security Council as the special assistant to the president and senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs. He drove interagency decisionmaking processes for the region and worked with international partners to foster shared understanding of key issues. He was instrumental in defining the administration’s approach to the Venezuelan crisis, the administration’s Cuba policy, and furthering the overall Western Hemisphere strategy. Cruz's professional career spans three decades as a public servant in the U.S. government. His deep understanding of the region was honed through overseas postings in Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. While in Colombia, Cruz fostered historic successes against drug cartels and guerrilla insurgencies. Throughout his government service, he has led teams to support, execute, and shape U.S. foreign policy and national security. Cruz speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese. He holds a BA from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, an MA in international public policy from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, and an executive leadership certification from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He also studied at the Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro.

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Ensuring the Biden-Fernández Meeting Matters

CSIS Americas adviser Juan O. Cruz and Henry Ziemer argue that for Biden's meeting with President Alberto Fernández to be a success, the United States must be prepared to strengthen cooperation on human rights and deepen security ties to Argentina.

Commentary by Juan Cruz and Henry Ziemer — July 22, 2022

Three Things That Won't Be Talked about Enough at the Summit of the Americas

CSIS Americas Program experts Juan Cruz, Francisco de Santibañes, and Henry Ziemer discuss prospects for the 2022 Summit of the Americas and highlight three issues that deserve a closer look at the summit and in its aftermath.

Commentary by Juan Cruz, Henry Ziemer, and Francisco de Santibañes — May 31, 2022

35 West

A Regional View on the Summit of the Americas

The upcoming Summit of the Americas ought to be an important venue for the United States and the region to align responses to shared challenges and strengthen hemispheric cooperation. Nevertheless, the summit is already struggling to live up to this potential, facing criticism that the current agenda downplays the concerns voiced by the region, as well as recent threats by several countries including Mexico, Bolivia, and Honduras to boycott the event.

Podcast Episode by Juan Cruz — May 26, 2022

CSIS 35 West

Prospects for Democracy in Cuba

The CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development invites you to join a virtual public event to discuss the prospects for the democratic movement in Cuba.

Event — August 11, 2021

Mexico Matters

To Cooperate Or Not: What is Mexico’s Security Strategy?

Mariana Campero speaks with security and intelligence experts Jorge Tello Peon and Juan Cruz about the efficacy of Mexico’s new security strategy.

Podcast Episode by Mariana Campero and Juan Cruz — March 2, 2021

CSIS Mexico Matters