When Nayib Bukele takes El Salvador's presidency on June 1, he will be the youngest leader in Latin America. At the 49th Washington Conference on the Americas, he spoke about his hopes to increase investment and jobs in his country to fight what he called "forced migration," as one third of Salvadorans live outside the country today. In a conversation with CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera about the challenges for his presidency, Bukele estimated that every job created would be able to keep five people from emigrating. And, “the only way we can grow is with the help of international investment,” was his appeal to the room.

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“It is unquestionable that over the last two years there has been profound transformation across Latin America," said U.S. Vice President Mike Pence at the 49th Washington Conference on the Americas. Pence's remarks covered U.S. relations with countries from Ecuador to Brazil, but focused, in large part, on supporting a democratic transition in Venezuela. He outlined the next steps the Trump administration is ready to take to pressure the Maduro regime, including holding Venezuelan Supreme Court magistrates accountable and removing sanctions on military leaders willing to defect.

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• Read a transcript of Pence's remarks.
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At the 49th Washington Conference on the Americas, Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard outlined the priorities of the new administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. He also discussed his government's plans to stem the migratory waves making their way from Central America by fostering development in Northern Triangle countries along with the southern region of Mexico. Moreover, Ebrard addressed Mexico's non-interventionist policy and efforts toward dialogue in the case of Venezuela's political standoff.

Eric Farnsworth, vice president of AS/COA, spoke with David Westin of Bloomberg's Balance of Power about the situation in Venezuela. "I think [Maduro] made a mistake that was an obvious exit strategy where he would have been able to leave the country intact, probably have a negotiated deal to have access to some of his ill-gotten gains, and have safety for the foreseeable future." 

Farnsworth also touched on the impact of hyperinflation in the military. "[Hyperinflation] doesn’t have any indication of getting better any time soon…The military might have a uniform on but they still have to live in the local economy, their families still have to find ways to eat...If you’re a senior military member, you have access to corruption, drug trafficking." 

Farnsworth also spoke on the international community's role. "Cuba in particular has been fully entwined in the security apparatus in Venezuela for years. Hugo Chávez originally brought them in shortly after he was elected…The Lima group has been a very important initiative in my view for the last couple years. It’s trying to find a peaceful solution—a third way, if you will—which will bring about democratic change and subject to the rule of law." However, Farnsworth says that the Lima Group doesn't have all the tools available to it. "Unless Maduro wants to go, they can't force him out." 
 

Guillermo Zubillaga de AS/COA habló con CNN Dinero sobre lo ocurrido en Venezuela el 30 de abril y 1 de mayo. "Ayer [30 de abril] empezó un nuevo capítulo donde se abrieron espacios para una transición. Dada la magnitud del impacto que ha tenido la crisis migratoria venezolana en los países vecinos, este momento donde se ve un espacio, no se va a desaprovechar". Zubillaga explica que este momento "crucial" no será rápido: "Pero sí estamos en una etapa crucial para lograr una posible transición pacífica".

Zubillaga también habló sobre cómo esta crisis ha afectado a los países vecinos de Venezuela que tuvieron "romance con el socialismo del siglo 21". "A pesar de la crisis migratoria que afecta sus propios países, como es el caso de Ecuador de Correa...Es decir, yo no he visto ninguno de esos ex-amigos saliendo y decir ‘bueno mira eso no era, no hemos debido apoyarlo’". Zubillaga dice que la izquierda ha tenido un "doble discurso" y que como tal no ha actuado como un "bloque monolítico".