35 West

The CSIS Americas Program podcast looks at the politics and policies of the 35 countries in the Western Hemisphere. It especially focuses on U.S. engagement with the region, whether on trade, diplomacy, or security issues like drugs and terrorism. Guests include top policymakers from the U.S. and other countries.

Government
Education
News
51
Fortifying the U.S.-Panama Partnership
In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Janaina Tewaney, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama. Together, they analyze the role of U.S.-Panama cooperation across a range of topics from nearshoring, to environmental conservation, and the ongoing fight against organized crime.
29 min
52
Striking a Balance on Nicaragua Sanctions
In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Eric Olson to assess the current state of U.S. sanctions against Nicaragua, as well as future directions for bringing pressure against the regime.
31 min
53
What is the Future of Sanctions on Venezuela?
In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Carrie Filipetti to discuss the state of U.S. sanctions today against the Maduro regime, the role these will play in the leadup to planned presidential elections, and what can be done to further pressure the regime to make meaningful concessions at the negotiating table.
33 min
54
More Than Subs, the Urgency of AUKUS for Canada
AUKUS, the newly-established security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and United States, has made waves of late as a result of its focus on helping Australia operate, acquire, and eventually build its own nuclear-powered attack submarines.
28 min
55
Much Ado About Non-Alignment
Rising geopolitical tensions between the United States, Russia, and China, have prompted some to argue the world is heading towards a polarized and fragmented future, with some countries split into opposing camps between democracies and autocracies and others not wanting to choose sides.
22 min
56
Latin America’s Emergency Contact
Latin American and Caribbean countries face mounting risks from natural disasters, with the region ranking as one of the most climate vulnerable areas in the world. With climate change likely to exacerbate these challenges, developing effective strategies for delivering Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), is of critical importance in the Western Hemisphere.
29 min
57
Best of 35 West: Taking Stock of International ...
In this "Best of 35 West" episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with José Ignacio Hernández to discuss the likely outcomes of the investigation and progress made so far.
22 min
58
Taking Exception to States of Exception
In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Steven Dudley to they unpack the nature of El Salvador's state of exception, what differentiates it from past hardline policies, and the threat this "Plan Bukele" poses to El Salvador and to democracies throughout the region.
26 min
59
One Year Later, Latin America Continues to Hedg...
In this episode, Ryan C. Berg and Christopher Hernandez-Roy sit down to unpack a recent CSIS Americas commentary on Latin America's response to the war in Ukraine and reflect on developments in the hemisphere at about the one-year mark of the conflict.
15 min
60
Energizing a Semiconductor Boom in the Americas
In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Jackie Sturm to discuss rebalancing semiconductor supply chains, and opportunities for the Western Hemisphere, especially in countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil.
20 min
61
Turning Up the Heat on Geothermal Energy in Lat...
In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Ximena Guardia Muguruza to discuss the landscape of geothermal energy projects in Latin America, with a close focus on Peru, where the industry remains in its very early stages.
16 min
62
Best of 35 West: Logros y Limitaciones en el Se...
In this special Spanish-Language episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Valeria Moy, Director General of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness, one of the most well-known think tanks in Mexico.
31 min
63
The Future of Hydrogen Development in the Weste...
In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Sunita Satyapal to unpack the uses and role of hydrogen, the state of play in the Western Hemisphere, and some of the actions the United States is taking to promote further hydrogen development.
25 min
64
Politics and the Private Sector: How the Latin ...
In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Ambassador Juan Carlos Pinzón to discuss the importance of the private sector for Latin America's post-pandemic recovery and economic future.
25 min
65
Defending Media Integrity in the Americas
Ryan C. Berg sits down with Ambassador John Feeley to discuss the Center for Media Integrity of the Americas' emergent role and efforts to uplift journalistic integrity amid a shifting media landscape.
34 min
66
O Primeiro Turno das Eleições Brasileiras Traz ...
Ryan C. Berg conversará com Thiago de Aragão. Juntos, eles analisam os resultados da eleição. / Ryan C. Berg sits down with Thiago de Aragão. Together, they unpack the election results
27 min
67
Constitutions, Complications, and Next Steps in...
On September 4, Chileans took to the polls for a constitutional referendum that saw a highly progressive draft constitution overwhelmingly rejected. In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Patricio Navia, Professor of Liberal Studies at New York University and Professor of Political Science at Universidad Diego Portales in Chile. Together, they unpack why the referendum resulted in a significant win for the "reject" campaign despite high levels of support for a new constitution in general.
18 min
68
The Terms of Engagement for China in Latin Amer...
Ryan C. Berg and Pepe Zhang, associate director and fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, break down how China has pursued a closer relationship with Latin American and Caribbean countries.
28 min
69
Dictatorship in Nicaragua Goes Global
Nicaragua’s descent into authoritarianism has had far-reaching humanitarian, economic, and diplomatic consequences.
30 min
70
Logros y Limitaciones en el Sector Digital en M...
In this special Spanish-Language episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Valeria Moy, Director General of the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness, one of the most well-known think tanks in Mexico.
31 min
71
Best of 35 West: Sharpening the Democratic Play...
In this "best of " episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Christopher Sabatini, Senior Research Fellow for Latin America, the US and the Americas Programme at Chatham House. Together, they outline what the international community can do to push back on rising authoritarianism, and empower democracy defenders.
28 min
72
The Future of USAID’s Partnership with Colombia
In this episode, Margarita R. Seminario sits down with Peter Natiello, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
24 min
73
The Inter-American Defense Board in a Changing ...
In this special Portuguese-language episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Vice-Admiral Alexandre Rabello de Faria, Chairman of the Council of Delegates of the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB).
29 min
74
The Geopolitics of Special Economic Zones in th...
In this episode, Ryan C. Berg sits down with Greg Huger, Executive Director of the HUGE Business and Investment Council. Together, they discuss the factors that make an SEZ successful not just for attracting and promoting private enterprise, but engaging local communities and national governments.
21 min
75
A Regional View on the Summit of the Americas
The upcoming Summit of the Americas ought to be an important venue for the United States and the region to align responses to shared challenges and strengthen hemispheric cooperation. Nevertheless, the summit is already struggling to live up to this potential, facing criticism that the current agenda downplays the concerns voiced by the region, as well as recent threats by several countries including Mexico, Bolivia, and Honduras to boycott the event.
26 min