In the last week, six Colombian hostages regained their freedom in what many say is a calculated political move by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. But recent bombings in Bogota and Cali could muddy the path forward.

In his first meeting with a foreign head of state since the U.S. election, Barack Obama talked with Mexico's Felipe Calderón Monday about how they can tighten bilateral relations to boost each country's economy and address security concerns.

Despite Mexico's war on organized crime, bloodshed continues and the cartels' tentacles reach well beyond the country's borders. As the crisis grows, so do calls and proposals for solutions.

Over the past year, Congress made headway in working with Latin America on trade, security, and energy. Looking ahead, 2009 holds great potential for advancing key hemispheric issues.

Building on a previous AQ article, Admiral James Stavridis outlines some of the Southern Command's key initiatives in Latin America, including traveling hospital ships to provide training and medical services.

Carlos Basombrio—a sociologist at the Instituto de Defensa Legal in Lima, Peru, and a former vice minister—urges the next U.S. administration to reevaluate the country's anti-drug policy in the Americas.

In the aftermarth of a corruption scandal, President Alan García reshuffled his cabinet. Both corruption and protecting the economy stand at the top of the presidential agenda.