As leaders from 33 countries converge in Caracas for the kickoff summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, observers debate the regional body’s potential for future success.

The OAS General Assembly met in El Salvador to focus on the issue of violent crime plaguing many parts of the Americas. But regional leaders differ on how to forge new solutions.

With Dominique Strauss-Kahn gone, Latin Americanists eye non-European picks to head the International Monetary Fund.

"The clamor from non-European nations is now for the new IMF managing director to be drawn from an emerging market nation," writes COA's Eric Farnsworth for The Huffington Post.

Four Latin American countries on the Pacific Rim are banding together to increase regional clout and Asia-Pacific trade. On April 28, the leaders of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru meet in Lima to ink the Pacific Arc agreement.

Three months into her administration, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is steering an independent course at the United Nations, while maintaining her predecessor’s guiding principles.

With President Obama set to commence a five-day, Latin American tour on March 19, AS/COA offers coverage and analysis to shine a light on priorities for his first presidential visit to Central and South America.