"Most countries in Latin America are now less reliant on the U.S. economy and the financial health of U.S. businesses and consumer," writes Univision's Stephen Keppel citing Americas Quarterly's winter 2012 issue.

Earlier this month, House Speaker John Boehner led a congressional delegation to Latin America to discuss jobs, energy, and economic security.

"Chinese engagement in the Americas is growing, and it has brought important if unequal benefits to the region," writes COA's Eric Farnsworth in an Op-Ed for CNN's Global Public Square.

The January 21 signing of a narcotics-monitoring pact shows that, while Bolivia’s tense relationship with the United States slowly improves, the Andean country also seeks closer ties with Brazil on drug-enforcement cooperation.

With the Obama administration knocking back the application for the Keystone pipeline from Canada to the United States, Canadian leaders are looking to Asian markets to expand energy exports.

AS/COA hosted Izabella Teixeira, Brazil's minister of the environment and Lisa Jackson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to discuss the priorities and challenges of the Joint Initiative on Urban Sustainability.

"To help foster important reforms in El Salvador and the region, the United States needs an ambassador in place. And we need someone there now," writes AS/COA's Jason Marczak in an op-ed for the Houston Chronicle.