Washington and Madrid should sieze on the chance to collaborate on Latin America policy. "[W]ith foresight, nuance, creativity, and a little good fortune, this is an emerging partnership whose time may very well have come," writes Farnsworth.

The April Summit of the Americas will provide a clue to President Barack Obama’s Latin America policy.

"The existing model for expanding trade in the hemisphere—in essence, piecemeal liberalization—has reached a point of diminishing returns," writes COA's Eric Farnsworth in Current History.

Brazil is trying to catch up on IT on its own terms.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government has pledged billions to battle the threat of recession and bolster Petrobras. Meanwhile, the Obama administration signals interest in strengthening relations with South America’s largest economy.

As the new administration settles in, hope rises anew for comprehensive immigration reform. Meanwhile, experts discuss what shape reform should take and emphasize ways to boost integration.

With a new Congress sworn in, legislative leaders now have an opportunity to respond to the hemisphere’s most pressing socioeconomic, security, and development priorities. This would be a win for the United States and for the Americas.