Explaining Brazil #315: How the U.S. election influences Latin America

The U.S. election is finally here, and political observers across Latin America are also waiting with bated breath. The choice between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will have implications that extend beyond U.S. borders, with leaders throughout the region wondering how the result might affect key issues such as migration, democratic stability, and economic policy. 

Still, Latin America remains a relatively low priority for Washington — regardless of who wins. But the consequences for the region will not be the same whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the race.

In this episode, we delve into how U.S.-Latin America relations will likely evolve under each candidate. We shed light on how migration, the Amazon, and diplomatic ties with countries such as Venezuela and Cuba might fare, depending on the election’s outcome.

Latin America’s relevance to Washington has waned over the years. With priorities elsewhere, the U.S. government — regardless of who leads it — is unlikely to place the region at the forefront of its foreign policy agenda. Still, certain high-stakes matters may draw attention from U.S. leadership if they become pressing enough.

Through this podcast episode, we bring you highlights from this insightful conversation, examining the possible paths forward for U.S.-Latin American relations in a post-election landscape. For a deeper look, the full interview has also been transformed into an article available on The Brazilian Report website.

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This episode used music from Uppbeat and Envato. License codes: Fairytales by Daniel Zambo, Aspire by Pryces (B6TUQLVYOWVKY02S), and Private Investigation by AMZA (V9ZG3LD).

In this episode:

• Peter Hakim is the president emeritus at the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington-based think tank.

Background reading:

• Inter-American Dialogue president emeritus Peter Hakim says the migration crisis will be one of the few Latin American matters that the next White House leader will follow closely.

• In our Latin America Weekly newsletter, we looked at how different countries within the region might be affected by the result — and who they might be cheering for.

• Brazil’s President Lula has come out in support of Kamala Harris. While this is hardly surprising given their political leanings, it’s not common practice to see him endorse one side or the other.

• On Election Day, our Brazil Daily newsletter broke down all of the important talking points for the country ahead of the U.S. election, explaining what may well affect the country in the event of a Harris or Trump win.

Do you have a suggestion for our next Explaining Brazil podcast? Drop us a line at [email protected]Don’t forget to follow us on X and Facebook.

The post Explaining Brazil #315: How the U.S. election influences Latin America appeared first on The Brazilian Report.