Central America

While Central America encompasses many young and fragile democracies, some countries such as Nicaragua and El Salvador have experienced significant democratic backsliding. CSIS experts research the region’s uneven economic development, rule of law, authoritarian politics, and immigration patterns to provide recommendations that shape U.S. policy.

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China’s Growing Influence in Latin America

Francisco Urdinez joins the show to unpack China’s strategy in Latin America, how regional countries have experienced China’s growing influence, how Chinese firms are replicating U.S. companies’ playbook from the early 20th century, and Chinese banks’ bad bet on Venezuela.

Podcast Episode by Henrietta Levin — February 5, 2026

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Pekingology

China’s Growing Influence in Latin America

Francisco Urdinez joins the show to unpack China’s strategy in Latin America, how regional countries have experienced China’s growing influence, how Chinese firms are replicating U.S. companies’ playbook from the early 20th century, and Chinese banks’ bad bet on Venezuela.

Podcast Episode by Henrietta Levin — February 5, 2026

CSIS Pekingology

When Crime Becomes Terror: Rethinking the FTO Designation

CSIS Americas Research Associate Rubi Bledsoe analyzes the recent designations of criminal organizations as FTOs by the Trump administration and discusses key similarities and differences between the groups.

Commentary by Rubi Bledsoe — October 21, 2025

The Truth of the Matter

Trump’s Panama Canal Policy

CSIS’s Ryan Berg joins the podcast to discuss the U.S. strategic interests in the Panama Canal, competition with China and potential outcomes.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Ryan C. Berg — April 29, 2025

CSIS the truth of the matter

Advancing U.S.-Panama Security Cooperation

CSIS Americas Program Director Ryan C. Berg analyzes the outcomes from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s recent visit to Panama and implications for the future of U.S.-Panama relations.

Commentary by Ryan C. Berg — April 16, 2025

Assessing Guatemala as a Nearshoring Destination

CSIS Americas Deputy Director and Senior Fellow Christopher Hernandez-Roy examines the business landscape in Guatemala and how the country can bolster its nearshoring attractiveness.

Report by Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Andrea Casique, and Natalia Hidalgo — April 1, 2025

Chinese Ports in Panama Come Under New Management

CSIS Americas Program director Ryan C. Berg, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Juliana Rubio, Henry Ziemer, and Rubi Bledsoe examine the significant of a recent deal for BlackRock to acquire ports along the Panama Canal.

Critical Questions by CSIS Scholars — March 6, 2025