The prospect of tapping into oil reserves has reignited a decades-old disagreement between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falklands' sovereignty. As a British firm began drilling, Buenos Aires made its case at the UN.

Latin American leaders at a Rio Group summit proposed a new regional bloc that would exclude the United States and Canada. On the sidelines, Colombian President Álvaro Uribe and his Ecuadorian counterpart Rafael Correa agreed to a “road map” to improve diplomatic relations.

The Dominican Republic rallied to help neighboring Haiti after last month's devastating earthquake. But Dominican concerns over refugees crossing the border could strain relations.

Speaking at COA's 2010 Madrid Conference, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere affairs Arturo Valenzuela discussed international recovery efforts in Haiti, and the need to form strategic alliances in the Americas. (en español)

AS/COA's first conference in Madrid explored Spain's strong cultural ties and significant investment relations with Latin America and the United States. Speakers included U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Arturo Valenzuela and Ibero-American General Secretariat Enrique Iglesias.

As Brazil's influence on the world stage increases, its partnership with the United States should be based on mutual recognition and respect, writes COA's Eric Farnsworth in Folha de São Paulo. Economic and political security should not come at either country's expense. (em português)

By the end of the month, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will have played host to Israeli, Palestinian, and Iranian leaders as he lifts Brazil’s profile on Middle East policy. But the November 23 visit of Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad raises eyebrows, given global concerns over Tehran's nuclear program.