CSIS Americas Program

The Program was established with the clear, forward-looking mission to elevate the policy discussion on the Western Hemisphere. We focus on six 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.