Americas Program

A leading source of ideas defining the future of national security, analyzing geopolitical trends, and addressing key political, economic, and social challenges facing the region

The Program was established with the clear, forward-looking mission to elevate the policy discussion on the Western Hemisphere. The program aims to influence through timely, practical, and insightful analysis and policy recommendations for partners in the United States and the region.

The Americas Program focuses on six thematic priorities:

  1. The authoritarian regimes in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba as well as democratic backsliding in other countries as a driver of regional instability.
  2. Economic development, strengthening supply chains, forging closer trade linkages between the United States and the region, and nearshoring critical industries.
  3. The long-term impact of China’s rise, the continued relevance of Russia and other extra-hemispheric powers, in a region shaped by strategic rivalry.
  4. Security, especially transnational criminal organizations and illicit economies, particularly in Mexico, the Northern Triangle, and Colombia.
  5. Governance challenges and their effects, including weak rule of law, endemic corruption, migration, inequality, and human rights violations.
  6. Civil-military relations and defense cooperation.

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Three Nations, One Table: North American Agriculture under USMCA

Presented by Americas Program
June 24, 2026 • 9:30 am – 3:00 pm EDT

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Three Nations, One Table: North American Agriculture under USMCA

Join the Americas Program for a conference on USMCA and the future of North American food and agriculture. Experts will discuss food affordability, the successes and challenges of agricultural integration, and the risks that broader trade tensions pose to the agreement’s agricultural framework ahead of the 2026 review.

Event — June 24, 2026

Nicaragua Under Repression: Human Rights, Accountability, and Exile

Join the Americas Program for a special hybrid event, featuring Jan Michael Simon, Chair of the U.N. Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN), to unpack key findings from GHREN’s March 2026 report and examine accountability, international response, and the future of human rights in Nicaragua. 

Event — May 29, 2026

35 West

Beyond Left and Right: Colombia’s 2026 Presidential Election

In this episode of 35 West, Associate Director Juliana Rubio sits down with Gabriel Cifuentes, co-founder of Greystone Consulting Group, to discuss Colombia’s upcoming May 31 presidential election.

Podcast Episode by Juliana Rubio — May 28, 2026

CSIS 35 West
35 West

Unpacking Peru's First-Round Elections

Henry Ziemer sits down with Mitra Taj to discuss the results of Peru's first-round elections.

Podcast Episode by Henry Ziemer — May 14, 2026

CSIS 35 West
Audio Briefs

How Are Perceptions of the U.S.-Mexico Relationship Changing?

An audio version of “⁠How Are Perceptions of the U.S.-Mexico Relationship Changing?⁠,” a new Commentary by CSIS’s Andrew I. Rudman. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Andrew I. Rudman — May 14, 2026

Audio Briefs