Author: Grant Castle
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US Policy on Venezuela: A Road to Nowhere?
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The views expressed in this article are those solely of the author and do not reflect the policies or views of the U.S. government or the U.S. Agency for International Development. Venezuela’s autocratic government signed an agreement with opposition parties October 17, 2023, laying the groundwork for potentially competitive presidential…
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The EU’s Democracy Challenge – and Opportunity
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In December 2022, Belgian authorities arrested Eva Kaili, a vice president of the European Parliament, amidst allegations that she accepted bribes from Qatar. This corruption scandal followed similar concerns in the European Union (EU) over the influence of Russian energy lobbyists during debates regarding sanctions against Russia. While much of…
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Rising Europe: How Washington Should Respond to an Empowered EU
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In December 2022, the European Union (EU) approved an 18 billion euro aid package to Ukraine to bolster its economy amidst Russia’s invasion. This follows approximately 2.5 billion euros in EU military aid to Ukraine between February and July 2022. The EU has enacted sweeping sanctions against Russia, banned exports…
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Trade Ties that Bind: An Economic Community for the Americas
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When leaders from across the Western Hemisphere departed President Biden’s Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, they left largely empty-handed. Despite fanfare and bold proclamations of an “Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity,” the Summit amounted to pleasant words with few tangible results. Although Latin American leaders received respectful engagement…