The Latin American Report # 616

The Trump administration activated heavy sanctions this Wednesday against the Russian oil sector, designating its two main engines, as punishment to Moscow for not closing a deal with Ukraine and guaranteeing Trump a new entry on his record of wars "ended" or "avoided". Although it may seem unrelated to the region, I bring up this news because it could indirectly have important effects on the Cuban economy, which, although it has not had such decisive support from Russia as its urgencies require, has found some relief in the irregular but critical oil shipments from its former Soviet partner. Furthermore, the announced sanctions can serve as another test to gauge whether the BRICS bloc truly has sufficient political and practical maturity to withstand Washington's reign on the financial order. Last year, it emerged that even Russia and China had problems using the yuan to close trade, given the refusal of Chinese banks to get into trouble with the US financial system.

Immigration

As is known, among the extraordinary measures adopted by the Trump administration on immigration is the sending of migrants allegedly "convicted of serious offenses" to third countries like the absolute monarchy of Eswatini, in Africa. This AP report denounces the imprisonment in that country—ruled by a king accused of violating human rights—of Roberto Mosquera del Peral, a Cuban who, according to the US Department of Homeland Security, "had been convicted of murder and other charges and was a gang member," but who would have already served his sentence like the rest of those sent with him to Eswatini about three months ago.

The Cuban is in a hunger strike since last week to protest his imprisonment without charges or access to legal counsel. "I urge the Eswatini Correctional Services to provide Mr. Mosquera´s family and me with an immediate update on his condition and to ensure that he is receiving adequate medical attention. I demand that Mr. Mosquera be permitted to meet with his lawyer in Eswatini," demanded his U.S.-based lawyer in a statement.

Brazil

Health officials confirmed that at least ten people have died after consuming methanol in adulterated alcoholic beverages. There have been about 110 notifications of intoxication nationwide, with about half already confirmed, a context that moved the Ministry of Health to declare a public health emergency. The symptoms of the affected people include difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, blurred vision, and mental confusion.

In a warehouse located on the outskirts of São Paulo, the most affected state, the Brazilian Civil Police discovered an improvised distillery that manufactured a colorless liquid similar to vodka using ethanol bought at gas stations with high levels of methanol, which they sold at low prices to bars and stores in bottles with counterfeit labels. The cause of 11 more deaths is being investigated to determine if they are also due to methanol intoxication, while the health crisis is also hitting sales in bars and restaurants.

New US attack on alleged drug-running boat

In a show of where the Trump administration has recently shifted its focus in its declared fight against drug trafficking, which we have already discussed, this Wednesday, the U.S. military launched a new attack, but in the waters of the Pacific Ocean off Colombia, killing two people. "[We] have legal authority. We´re allowed to do that," said Trump about this last event, also leaving open the possibility of conducting operations on land, although it is not clear to me if he refers to US territory or to the sovereign territory of the targeted countries, like Venezuela and now Colombia.

Petro said he will defend himself in US courts against the "slanders" launched by the Republican leader. "They have cocaine factories. They grow all kinds of crap, and the bad drugs that enter the United States generally pass through Mexico, and it's better to be careful and take very serious measures against him and his country," Trump added to the record from the Oval Office, even calling the first Colombian president with leftist tendencies a "bully." Bogotá withdrew its ambassador from Washington this week, while the US president stated that his country has suspended all payments to Colombia, which is the main beneficiary in the entire region of US assistance.

The politicization of culture

This is not a minor issue, since the Puerto Rican artist known as Bad Bunny has heavily criticized Trump's immigration policies and defended the identity of his homeland.

This is all for today’s report.