Americas Program

A leading source of ideas defining the future of national security, analyzing geopolitical trends, and addressing key political, economic, and social challenges facing the region

The Program was established with the clear, forward-looking mission to elevate the policy discussion on the Western Hemisphere. The program aims to influence through timely, practical, and insightful analysis and policy recommendations for partners in the United States and the region.

The Americas Program focuses on six thematic priorities:

  1. The authoritarian regimes in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba as well as democratic backsliding in other countries as a driver of regional instability.
  2. Economic development, strengthening supply chains, forging closer trade linkages between the United States and the region, and nearshoring critical industries.
  3. The long-term impact of China’s rise, the continued relevance of Russia and other extra-hemispheric powers, in a region shaped by strategic rivalry.
  4. Security, especially transnational criminal organizations and illicit economies, particularly in Mexico, the Northern Triangle, and Colombia.
  5. Governance challenges and their effects, including weak rule of law, endemic corruption, migration, inequality, and human rights violations.
  6. Civil-military relations and defense cooperation.

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Projects

Featured Analysis

Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Effects of the Trump Administration’s Tariff Threats Against Canada and Mexico

CSIS Americas Deputy Director and Senior Fellow Christopher Hernandez-Roy describes how U.S. rhetoric and trade threats are causing Canada and Mexico to rethink their relationship with their neighbor.

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Commentary by Christopher Hernandez-Roy — March 31, 2025

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The Role of Social Media in Cartel Recruitment

CSIS Americas Research Associate Rubi Bledsoe delves into the intricacies of digital recruitment tactics by Mexican cartels, the factors that make the youth vulnerable to them, and best avenues to combat them.

Commentary by Rubi Bledsoe — May 28, 2025

Audio Briefs

The Maduro Regime Held Another Sham Election—What Happens Now?

An audio version of “⁠The Maduro Regime Held Another Sham Election—What Happens Now?⁠,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Ryan C. Berg, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Juliana Rubio, Henry Ziemer, Rubi Bledsoe, and Natalia Hidalgo. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Ryan C. Berg, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Juliana Rubio, Henry Ziemer, and Rubi Bledsoe — May 27, 2025

Audio Briefs
Mexico Matters

More Carrots and Less Sticks

In this episode, Mariana speaks with Dr. Ryan Berg, director of the Americas Program, on China’s presence in Latin America, transforming itself from a distant economic partner into a central player in Latin America’s trade, infrastructure, and strategic technology sectors. 

Podcast Episode by Mariana Campero and Ryan C. Berg — May 15, 2025

CSIS Mexico Matters
35 West

The Aftermath of Canada’s Elections

In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Andrew Potter to discuss the factors that shaped the Canadian election and the challenges confronting Prime Minister Carney, and Canada as a whole.

Podcast Episode by Christopher Hernandez-Roy — May 15, 2025

CSIS 35 West
Audio Briefs

Mexico’s Telecommunications Law: Bolstering Access or Curtailing Competition?

An audio version of “⁠⁠⁠Mexico’s Telecommunications Law: Bolstering Access or Curtailing Competition?⁠,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS's Ryan C. Berg and Henry Ziemer. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Ryan C. Berg and Henry Ziemer — May 15, 2025

Audio Briefs