In his latest album, “Debí tirar más fotos" (DTMF), Puerto Rican reggaetonero (reggaeton singer) Bad Bunny denounced American colonialism as well as the mass tourism that the island has been experiencing for several years. This is not the first time that Benito denounces the living conditions and the difficult political situation of the island through his music. 

On Saturday, January 17, 2025, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, signed the free trade agreement between the European Union and MERCOSUR in Asunción, Paraguay. This agreement is the result of more than 20 years of discussions between the two institutions and now must be ratified by the European Parliament to come into effect. 

According to the Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2025 of ECLAC, Latin America's growth rate moderated to 2.4% in 2025, and experts forecast 2.3% of growth in 2026. ECLAC states that Latin America’s growth is insufficient to combat poverty and inequality in the region.

In the last weeks, the media has mentioned the return to the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America due to the current tensions between President Donald Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as well as the American bombing of Venezuelan ships in the Caribbean. In several press articles, journalists even mention a “Donroe Doctrine” (The New York Times, 2025).

On May 12, 2025, in an interview with Bloomberg, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that Colombia would join China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), becoming the twenty-first Latin American country to integrate the project. Is the Belt Road Initiative a driver of industrial development for Latin America?

In Latin America, the commodities boom refers to the rise of commodity prices (energy, agricultural products, minerals and fuels) that occurred at the beginning of the 21st century. The supercycle drove economic growth and prosperity in the region. The living standard improved significantly as a new middle class emerged.