The following interview between Global Americans’ Executive Director Guy Mentel and Francisco J. Monaldi took place this week as the Biden-Harris administration moves to combat climate change and as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt global oil markets.
Once again, history seems to be repeating itself. The United States, along with the world’s other rich and mostly Western countries, continue to be accused of hoarding medical supplies, having purchased one billion surplus vaccine doses (more than is required to vaccinate their citizens). In their absence, China—and, to a lesser extent, Russia—have rushed to take advantage of the vaccine gap in the Global South, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Few voters flocked to Mexico’s opposition in last Sunday’s midterms, even with AMLO receiving poor grades in polls.
A recent publication by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)) highlighted the need for the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to “stay abreast of emerging S&T (Science and Technology) around the world, leverage others’ investments and seek out collaborations in areas where researchers need to remain at the leading edge.” The report makes clear that, in order to confront the challenge posed by revisionist powers (RPs) in Latin America, a far larger S&T engagement strategy that encompasses a “whole-of-government” approach must be undertaken.
Thornton explores the little-known history of Mexico’s role in shaping the institutions that would come to define global economic governance.
Amid a flurry of recent gang violence in Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador, a recent New York Times article argued that the Biden administration has an opportunity to decrease the flow of weapons across the southern border by passing legislation requiring universal background checks.
The Global Impunity Index measures the structure of countries’ justice and security systems and the degree to which human rights are respected. Mexico continuously ranks among the 10 countries with the highest levels of impunity.
El Índice Global de Impunidad mide la estructura de los sistemas de justicia y seguridad de los países y el grado en que se respetan los derechos humanos. México se ubica continuamente entre los 10 países con los niveles más altos de impunidad.
Violence and impunity have proved pervasive barriers to security and justice in Mexico. Action from the IACHR and a recent Netflix documentary have raised these issues to the Mexican government.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has defended his silence following the U.S. presidential election based on non-intervention, but his rhetoric highlights a growing transnational notion that no election can necessarily be trusted, a trend that undermines democracy and will be a headwind that the Biden administration must confront as it assumes office.
