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.
Areas of Expertise
All content by Juan Cruz
Filter by
Ensuring the Biden-Fernández Meeting Matters
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
Commentary by Juan Cruz , Henry Ziemer , and Francisco de Santibañes — May 31, 2022

Prospects for Democracy in Cuba
Event by Daniel F. Runde , Juan Cruz , Elizabeth Hoffman , Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) , Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) , Armando Chaguaceda , Deborah Ullmer , and Amalia Dache — August 11, 2021
Outlining a Roadmap for Successful Negotiations in Venezuela
Event by John J. Hamre , Moises Rendon , Juan Cruz , Audun Halvorsen , Sergio Jaramillo Caro , Magaly Sanchez , and Paul Gibbard — May 27, 2021
The Chickens Have Come Home to Roost: Venezuelan Skirmishes on the Border
Commentary by Juan Cruz — May 6, 2021
To Cooperate Or Not: What is Mexico’s Security Strategy?
Podcast Episode by Mariana Campero and Juan Cruz — March 2, 2021

Online Event: Diversity in Defense, Development, and Diplomacy: HBCU Career Advancement
Event by Daniel F. Runde , Juan Cruz , Nicole Breland Aandahl , Chris Richardson , Enoh Ebong , Julie Chung , and Tonija Navas — November 17, 2020
Online Report Launch: Sustainable Infrastructure in the Amazon
Event by Daniel F. Runde , Romina Bandura , Juan Cruz , Avecita Chicchón , Tomás Serebrisky , and Daniela Gomes Pinto — October 26, 2020
Voices of Venezuela: Where Do We Go From Here?
Podcast Episode by Moises Rendon , Juan Cruz , and Mark Feierstein — July 23, 2020
