Americas Program

A leading source of ideas defining the future of national security, analyzing geopolitical trends, and addressing key political, economic, and social challenges facing the region

The Program was established with the clear, forward-looking mission to elevate the policy discussion on the Western Hemisphere. The program aims to influence through timely, practical, and insightful analysis and policy recommendations for partners in the United States and the region.

The Americas Program focuses on six thematic priorities:

  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.

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Projects

Featured Analysis

Photo:SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

Photo:SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

USMCA Review 2026

CSIS Americas experts evaluate key challenges and opportunities ahead of the 2026 joint review of the USMCA free trade agreement.

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Brief by Diego Marroquín Bitar, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, and Earl Anthony Wayne — August 18, 2025

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Imagery from Venezuela Shows a Surgical Strike, Not Shock and Awe

CSIS experts analyze new satellite imagery of U.S. strikes against Venezuela carried out during the mission to capture Nicolás Maduro.

Commentary by Ryan C. Berg, Mark F. Cancian, Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jennifer Jun, Henry Ziemer, and Chris H. Park — January 9, 2026

35 West

Operation Just Cause and Venezuela

In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy sits down with Ambassador Luigi Einaudi to discuss the overthrow of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega and its implications for U.S. policy towards Venezuela.

Podcast Episode by Christopher Hernandez-Roy — January 8, 2026

CSIS 35 West
The Last Line of Defense

Maduro is Gone. Now What in Venezuela?

Seth Jones speaks with Dr. Ryan Berg about Venezuela’s political landscape in the post-Maduro era, examining U.S. policy goals, shifting power structures, and what’s at stake for the country’s new president, Delcy Rodríguez.

Podcast Episode by Seth G. Jones and Ryan C. Berg — January 7, 2026

The Last Line of Defence
Audio Briefs

From Regime Change to Regime Management: Washington’s Venezuela Strategy

An audio version of “⁠From Regime Change to Regime Management: Washington’s Venezuela Strategy⁠,” a new Commentary by CSIS’s Christopher Hernandez-Roy. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Christopher Hernandez-Roy — January 7, 2026

Audio Briefs

What Just Happened in Venezuela? And What Comes Next?

What is the future of Venezuela? Is there a chance for a transition to democracy? Will the United States be able to work with a protégé of Maduro to help govern Venezuela? CSIS experts discuss the aftermath of the U.S. strike on Venezuela, addressing these questions and more.

Event — January 5, 2026