Speakers:

• Jessica Ludwig, Research and Conferences Officer, International Forum for Democratic Studies, National Endowment for Democracy 
• Frank O. Mora, Director, Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center, Florida International University 
• Christopher Walker, Vice President for Studies and Analysis, National Endowment for Democracy
• Eric Farnsworth, Vice President, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (moderator)

Why is sharp power a more accurate descriptor of Chinese and Russian engagment in Latin America? How does the nature of each country's influence in the region differ? Experts discuss the implications of each country's motivations and methods of engagement in the region, from social media to foreign direct investment.

China aims to be the world's leader in artificial intelligence by 2030 and, as an increasingly important trade partner for Latin America, the region needs to be able to match the sophistication of its Asian counterpart. In an interview on the sidelines of the 2017 Council of the Americas Symposium and BRAVO Business Awards, IBM Latin America General Manager Ana Paul Assis says, over time, the region will increasingly adopt artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other disruptive technology.

• Learn more about the symposium and awards. 
• Watch videos of the event.

Panelists:

• Steve Biegun, Vice President, Ford Motor Co.
• R. Evan Ellis, Research Professor of Latin American Studies, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute
• Ed Verona, Former President and CEO, U.S.-Russia Business Council
• Christopher Walker, Vice President, Studies and Analysis, National Endowment for Democracy (moderator)

If the bulk of China's relationship with Latin America is in commercial ties with the region, the case of Russia is different as the country focuses on a more geopolitical strategy. In the second panel of AS/COA's event in Washington DC, China, Russia, and the Regional Democracy Agenda, experts from the private and public sector weighed in on Russian interests in the region. Ford's Steve Biegun talked about Russia's ties with Venezuela, Bolivia, and Nicaragua and how the country might reinforce anti-American values in the region. Biegun said that in this scenario, corruption in the region makes the U.S. private sector put their faith and confidence in "good people" in Latin America, who are committed to democracy and rule of law. McLarty Associates Senior Advisor Edward Verona said that Russia should expect reactions against corruption in Latin America from now on. Verona also spoke on Russia's energy investments in the region. Although smaller than China in bandwidth, Russia now has energy investments in Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Mexico, and Argentina. 

The panelists also discussed a growing Russian media influence in the region and how the presence of channels such as Russia Today and Sputinik might influence the many upcoming elections in Latin America, especially via social media. When it comes to Russia's presence in Mexico, though, they agreed the United States has stronger historical, geographic, and people-to-peole ties with the country, even though relations are shaken as the current administration threatens to break the North American Free Trade Agreement. "We are at $600 billion in trade," said R. Evan Ellis. "No other nation, including China, has that amount in trade with Mexico." The United States can build on this trust and partnership to limit chances for Russia in Mexico, he explained.

• Watch the China portion of the program.

Panelists:

• Juan Pablo Cardenal, Author and Senior Researcher, Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America
• Jorge Guajardo, Former Ambassador of Mexico to the People's Republic of China
• Shanthi Kalathil, Director, International Forum for Democratic Studies
• Eric Farnsworth, Vice President, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (moderator)

As the current U.S. government shifts its relationship with Latin America, China's influence in the region might expand from a commercial focus into political influence, experts said at the first panel of AS/COA's event China, Russia, and the Regional Democracy Agenda in Washington DC. Juan Pablo Cardenal talked about the Chinese Communist Party's presence in countries such as Argentina and Peru while Shanthi Kalathil reviewed the implications of recent agreements between China's CCTV and Latin American state television networks. Klathil raised the question on whether closer engagement with China will lead to changes within democratic systems as the country gains strengh in the technology sector and within Internet global systems. But Jorge Guajardo says he's still a "big skeptic" about  Chinese strategy, saying it remains unclear and that the country has fallen short on delivering big game-changing promises such as the Nicaragua Canal.

• Watch the Russia portion of the program.