The effects of the war in Iran are being felt across the region, and Chile is a country where they are evidenced more strongly following the decision of the newly inaugurated president, José Antonio Kast, to pass on to citizens the burden of rising fuel prices. "Speaking the truth gives us great peace of mind. One alternative, as was raised, was to further indebted the nation. That ends up costing more," he stated reproducing a logic we know very well here.
The militarized police Carabineros de Chile harshly repressed those who protested yesterday, Thursday, over this issue—there was deployment of trucks with water cannons and armored vehicles equipped with pepper spray—while EFE reported that foreign press had great difficulty covering events. "Honestly, I find this terrible. It's been so few days, and he's already doing things that affect the entire middle class and lower class - but nothing is known about what he's going to do with the upper class," said a female driver about the new president. Diesel is now 60% more expensive, while 93‑octane gasoline rose 30%. "I came to buy 'gold,'" the same driver said, metaphorically referring to gasoline.
Costa Rica
The outgoing government of Rodrigo Chaves, who will be replaced by one of his own kind—or worse?—, has agreed with the Trump administration to receive deported migrants as part of the latter's aggressive immigration policy, showing the alignment between the White House and a right that is in excellent health these days in the region. It is expected that about 25 deported migrants will arrive each week. "Costa Rica is prepared to see this flow of people," said Costa Rican Public Security Minister Mario Zamora Cordero in statements cited by AP. "We are very proud to have partners like President (Rodrigo Chaves) and Costa Rica, who are working to ensure that people who are in our country illegally have the opportunity to return to their countries of origin," said the degraded Kristi Noem, now acting as U.S. special envoy for the so-called "Shield of the Americas". These agreements have been harshly criticized.
In a decision with no other source than obsequiousness and obedience to Washington, last week San José—suspiciously following Ecuador's footsteps—broke diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Argentina
The nation led by Javier Milei, integrated more than any other into the "Shield of the Americas" initiative and any other that Trump convenes, has designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a terrorist organization. Thus, I am projecting that at some point, we will also see some negative diplomatic move from Buenos Aires regarding Havana.
Meanwhile 👇
Corruption allegations dent Milei's popularity in Argentina, polls show https://t.co/bfF7WMueyj https://t.co/bfF7WMueyj
— Reuters Politics (@ReutersPolitics) March 26, 2026
USA vs. Maduro
The problem of how Maduro will pay for his defense remains to be resolved; an OFAC license is required 👇
A New York court judge questioned why the US government had blocked ousted Venezuelan president Maduro from using the South American country's funds to pay his legal fees, while affirming that the charges against him could not be dismissed on that basis https://t.co/MKmStSC660 pic.twitter.com/SnYhlBjvPU
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 26, 2026
Cuba
The impact of the ad hoc U.S. oil blockade on Cuba—built on top of a historic, comprehensive regime of economic sanctions —is hitting the health sector quite hard.
Cuban doctors endure burnout, blackouts as once-vaunted healthcare declines https://t.co/z0W01YP2NZ https://t.co/z0W01YP2NZ
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 26, 2026
Concerning. Also directly related to the oil blockade
Two humanitarian aid boats en route to Cuba missing, Mexico says https://t.co/jgBimautxX https://t.co/jgBimautxX
— Reuters Politics (@ReutersPolitics) March 27, 2026
