For good or for ill, metals are the new oil. We need more “rare earths” and “everyday earths” to build the technologies of the future and make real a carbon transition. The geopolitics around mines, minerals, and the processing of metals are heating up. For that reason, the U.S. needs a more sophisticated strategy to …
Continue reading Metals are the new oil – with all the geopolitical and environmental complications
Ukraine’s victories on the battlefield have earned Ukraine the right to a peaceful and prosperous future in Europe. To become a full member of the West, Ukraine will require a strong security agreement and a credible and timely European Union (EU) accession process. The promise of EU membership is such a powerful and an attractive …
Given the unprecedented amount of humanitarian, military, and economic assistance the United States is providing Ukraine, strong oversight of this money will be critical. However, creating a “Special Inspector General for Ukraine” is not necessary when the existing Offices of Inspectors General at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of State (State) and …
Continue reading Overseeing Ukraine aid should not mean more government agencies
Mexico’s National Electoral Institute (INE) has been a key partner in bringing about Mexico’s democracy in the 1990s and early 2000s. The INE is now in jeopardy. While all institutions should be reviewed for improvements, drastic changes proposed to INE would destroy it — and Mexico should not follow through on the proposed changes. This …
Continue reading Breaking Mexico’s election regulator will lead to soft autocracy
Last Friday, the field of candidates for the president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) was set. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago have put forward candidates. If Chile puts forward a strong diplomatic campaign, the Chilean candidate is best positioned to win the election. The winner must garner votes from more than 50 percent …
Continue reading Chilean candidate best positioned to lead the Inter-American Development Bank
President Biden reportedly plans to meet with China’s president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20. He should raise the issue of resolving developing country debt, much of it held by China, a problem requiring a political solution. In the last 15 years, developing countries have increasingly borrowed from China and the “private sector” — a diverse set of financial …
Continue reading President Biden should raise developing country debt with Xi
The United States needs a more active partnership with Guyana. If managed properly, Guyana will be one of the greatest oil producers in the Western Hemisphere. The small country is barely on the radar of anyone outside of a very small but growing number of observers in the United States. Five years from today, Guyana …
The search is on for a new president of the Inter-American Development Bank. Candidates must have their paperwork in within 45 days of the launch of the search, which is Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. The first candidate announced so far is Ambassador Alicia Barcena of Mexico, currently representing her country to Chile. More importantly, Ambassador Barcena ran “CEPAL” (known …
Continue reading Praise for Chavez, Castro and China does not belong at the head of the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) board of directors unanimously voted last week to recommend the removal of the IDB’s president, Mauricio Claver-Carone (known as “MCC”) — and the board of governors voted to fire him Monday afternoon. The directors now need to come up with a qualified consensus candidate to replace him. The IDB is the critical collective action vehicle for shared challenges …
Continue reading Trump’s pick for head of IDB fired; we need a consensus replacement
The United States should seek to build — over the next five to 10 years — a new partnership with Pakistan similar to the sort of partnership the U.S. has with Bangladesh. We are never going to be “best friends” with Pakistan, but we should reengage from this moment of very low trust to work …
Continue reading US should seek to mend the broken relationship with Pakistan
Daniel Runde 