Erik Suárez, a Venezuelan expatriate settled in the United States, joins the Impunity Observer podcast to comment on the impact of the US presidential election in Latin America. For Suárez, US foreign policy towards the region will experience a significant change. Republican senators and congressmen with Latino roots, such as Marco Rubio, María Salazar, and Mario Díaz-Balart, have been actively working to increase Latin American prominence in US foreign policy.
Moreover, political commentator Suarez argues that a new Donald Trump administration could support Venezuela’s return to democracy. Since Republicans will have a majority in the House and Senate, they will have the enough strength to pressure dictatorial regimes in the region. However, creating the conditions to change the regime through US policies is not enough. For Suárez, Venezuelans should lead the transition.
Regarding migration, Suarez believes Trump will continue the migration policy he implemented before. He acknowledges that welcoming people that flee from totalitarian regimes like Venezuela, unfortunately, affects the prosperity of the home nation. He comments on the severe brain drain that Venezuela has experienced during Chavismo, and warns that some expatriates are now unlikely to ever return.
Fergus Hodgson
Publisher: Fergus Hodgson, CAIA, is the director of Econ Americas, a financial and economic consultancy. He holds an MBA in finance from Rice University and bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science from Boston University and the University of Waikato. He was the founding editor in chief of the PanAm Post.
