35 West CSIS

Space has long been colored by divides between the “haves” who possess the economic and technological wherewithal to make it to orbit and beyond, and the “have-nots” who lack these capabilities. This divide in turn has historically played out between the Global North and the Global South, with the latter grouping feeling as if they have been excluded from sharing in the benefits of space exploration. However, this is only part of the picture. As space becomes both increasingly critical and accessible, there is a need for a more nuanced understanding of how a broader set of global players view the issues surrounding these capabilities.
In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Laura Delgado López, a Visiting Fellow with the CSIS Americas Program. Together, they discuss the evolving and divergent space policies that can be found throughout Latin America. They also unpack her new report Orbital Dynamics: The Domestic and Foreign Policy Forces Shaping Latin American Engagement in Space and some of the key findings from this yearlong investigation into regional perspectives on space policy and international engagement. 

Firearms trafficking is fueling violence across the hemisphere by providing criminal groups the arms and means necessary to violently expand their businesses, threaten citizens, and even challenge government forces. While the United States is by far the largest single supplier of firearms to Latin America and the Caribbean, a plethora of other sources, from unsecured military and police stockpiles, to artisanal and 3D-printed weapons, to alternative suppliers in Turkey and Europe, all contribute to this challenge.
In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Andrei Serbin Pont, Executive Director of the Economic and Social Studies Regional Coordinator (CRIES-LAC). Together, they discussed shifting trends in firearms trafficking patterns, the synergies that exist between the illegal gun and drug trades, and how the United States and better partner with its regional allies to curb illicit arms. They also discuss Andrei's work on the Small Arms-Light Weapons Dashboard project, and the ways in which emerging technologies like artificial intelligence are revolutionizing open-source intelligence work on studying organized crime. 

Almost every corner of the Western Hemisphere has been touched by the monumental challenge of irregular migration. However, addressing the multifaceted and context-specific manifestations of irregular migration is no small feat. An effective response to the migratory movements we are observing therefore hinges on cooperation with partners in the region at all levels, on-the-ground knowledge, and close cooperation with and within the U.S. government.
In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Michael Camilleri, Acting Assistant Administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean. Together, they discuss the origins, importance, and implementation of the U.S. strategy for addressing the root causes of migration in Central America. They also delved into USAID's work to help confront emerging challenges such as climate change, support integration of migrants within the region, and strengthen partnerships with governments and civil societies.

The global energy transition will require a simultaneous mining revolution. However, reaching the levels of production needed to achieve net zero goals is no small feat, while China’s dominance in the midstream of critical minerals supply chains presents risks to both the United States and minerals producers in the Western Hemisphere alike.
In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Dr. Gustavo Lagos Cruz-Coke, Professor of Engineering and Mines at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Together, they unpack the challenges and opportunities facing the mining industry in Latin America and the view from Chile towards China's expansion in this strategic sector. They also discuss the role of U.S. efforts to reorient mineral supply chains through the Inflation Reduction Act and Minerals Security Partnership, and why such policies have yet to gain significant traction in the region. 

On June 2, nearly 60 million people cast their votes for the next president of Mexico, making it the largest election in Mexico’s history. However, the race was also marred by electoral violence, with more than three dozen candidates or prospective candidates murdered over the electoral season. Intimidation, coercion, and threats to family members further compelled many prospective candidates to withdraw from the race, illustrating the corrosive impact of violence and impunity for democratic institutions.
In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Chris Dalby, Director of World of Crime and author of the new book CJNG – A Quick Guide to Mexico’s Deadliest Cartel. Together, they discuss Mexico's evolving criminal landscape, the causes and consequences of electoral violence in Mexico, and what to expect from the new Sheinbaum administration's security policy. They also delve into the ways the United States and Mexico can reset security cooperation which has deteriorated in recent years.

This episode of 35 West originally aired on December 20, 2023. Now, just days away from the election, many of topics discussed have only grown in relevance over the course of the official campaign season.
Mexico's general election on June 2 of 2024 promises to be a seminal moment for Mexican politics and society on a number of fronts, in particular, the race has made headlines as a contest between two women, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum on one hand, and Senator Xóchitl Gálvez on the other, promising to herald Mexico’s first female president. But the race is also a test of the staying power of current President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Morena Party, and whether its breakout success in 2018 can be translated into sustained influence over Mexican politics.
In this special episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Alma Caballero, Northern Latin America Managing Director at McLarty Associates. Together, they discuss the policy positions of the frontrunners, the challenges that will face either a Gálvez or a Sheinbaum government, and the influence President López Obrador is likely to wield over Mexico's political environment even after departing office. They also delve into questions of security, and the threat organized crime may pose to the electoral process next year.