A proposal to create a South American defense alliance arose last week during a Brazil-Venezuela summit. As tensions between Ecuador and Colombia continue, Brazilian officials recommend a defense board to mediate in regional disputes.

Presidents of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela ended their standoff and the FARC appears increasingly weakened. But the contents of an assassinated FARC leader's laptop suggest the group's reach extends well past Colombia's borders. 

Bolivia struggles to maintain contractual commitments to Argentina and Brazil, leading to a recent leader’s meeting in Buenos Aires about the matter. In Venezuela, fallout continues following last year's nationalizations. 

Caracas began the year by knocking zeros off its currency, but experts say the move won’t keep inflation in check.  A cabinet shuffle and the currency change came a month after voters rejected an overhaul of the constitution.

In a Sunday referendum, Venezuelans narrowly rejected sweeping constitutional changes. President Hugo Chavez, suffering his first electoral defeat since gaining office in 1998, accepted the loss "for now." AS/COA’s Latin America Conference featured a discussion panel on the referendum.

On November 30, AS/COA welcomed former Presidents José Sarney and Alejandro Toledo at the annual Latin America Conference. Panels focused on promoting social and economic development in the Americas as well as Venezuela's vote on constitutional reform.

While world attention focuses on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's war of words with Colombia and Spain, Venezuelans prepare to vote on a constitutional referendum that could allow Chavez to hold office indefinitely. Polls indicate the outcome of Sunday's vote remains uncertain. AS/COA’s Latin America Conference featured a discussion panel on the referendum.