Latin America and the Caribbean Overview: July 2026
Gang violence against civilians hit a monthly high in Ecuador, police killings in Jamaica became more lethal, and violence persisted in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
All analysis on Ecuador
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The US’ Donroe Doctrine is reshaping conflicts in Latin America and the Caribbean
Trump's efforts to influence governments in the region in pursuit of his security strategy are effective, but unlikely to substantially curb organized crime and drug trafficking.
60 days of the Iran war — 6 conflicts you didn’t see
While global attention was fixed on Iran, violence, unrest, and instability continued to escalate elsewhere — largely out of view.
Latin America and the Caribbean Overview: April 2026
Demonstrations surged in Cuba and Venezuela, and Ecuadorian authorities stepped up operations against armed groups as tensions with Colombia increased.
Webinar | Violence, militarization, and organized crime: Ecuador’s challenges in 2026
Watch the recoded discussion on Ecuador’s security dynamics and situate the country’s crisis within broader regional dynamics, including the influence of neighboring countries and external actors — notably the United States — in shaping security policies and outcomes.
Latin America and the Caribbean Overview: March 2026
The killing of CJNG leader El Mencho set off violence in Mexico, and armed group activity in Colombia could lead to violence around elections.
Latin America and the Caribbean Overview: January 2026
The ELN in Colombia reacted to Trump’s threats with an armed strike, the turf war intensified between rival gangs in Ecuador’s Machala prison, and violence escalated in Sinaloa, Mexico.
US hard power turns to Latin America and the Caribbean
Militarized responses to organized crime are likely to spread further as governments adopt tough-on-crime measures and the US exerts more pressure.
Pressure rises on Ecuador's government to rein in escalating gang violence
Spreading criminal activity, developments in neighboring Colombia, and US attention on drug trafficking will affect Noboa’s ability to curb rising violence.
Aumenta la presión sobre el Gobierno de Ecuador para que controle la violencia del crimen organizado
La propagación de la actividad criminal, los acontecimientos en la vecina Colombia y el foco que Estados Unidos tiene puesto en el tráfico de drogas afectarán a la capacidad de Noboa para frenar el aumento de la violencia.