21 July 2026
Dear Patrons,
As is often the case, a great deal has happened in Latin America since my last newsletter. Among the developments that stand out are the national strike in Bolivia, the continued and dramatic rapprochement between Venezuela and the United States, the presidential elections in Peru and Colombia, and, finally, the new economic reforms introduced in Cuba.
By now, as some of you may be aware, the 50-day national strike in Bolivia came to an end in June after the government of Rodrigo Paz reached an agreement with labour unions and declared a state of emergency. Costing the Bolivian economy more than US$50 million per day, and leaving roughly 5,000 vehicles stranded on highways because of roadblocks, the strike was driven by soaring inflation, low wages and the Paz administration’s move to abolish much-needed fuel subsidies. Speaking to the Green and Red Podcast in early June, I offered my own assessment of the crisis and highlighted the importance of understanding the split within the former ruling party—the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS)—between ex-presidents Evo Morales and Luis Arce.
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