Why has Latin America - a region that directly impacts American security, immigration, and drug policy - been treated as such an afterthought in U.S. foreign policy? Juan Gonzalez, who served in senior positions across the Obama and Biden administrations including as the National Security Council Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere, argues that this neglect comes at a steep cost. As he explains, migration and drug trafficking aren’t all that Latin America’s about. And one thing’s clear: these aren’t just foreign policy challenges — they’re domestic crises that demand we look beyond our borders.
Now that President Trump has militarized our actions in Latin America in a manner not seen in decades, it’s well past time to figure out the way forward.
In this revealing conversation, Gonzalez takes us inside the policymaking process, drawing on his personal experience as a Colombian immigrant to explain why empathy isn’t just a nice-to-have in diplomacy, it’s essential for effective negotiations with Latin American countries.
Gonzalez examines how the Trump Administration’s transactional approach has complicated U.S.- Latin America relations, why Democrats often stumble over ideological purity in policy discussions, and what it will take to build sustainable strategic alliances in the hemisphere.
This conversation is essential listening for those interested in Making Sense of the World and understanding why getting Latin America policy right isn’t just about being a good neighbor, it’s about protecting American security and prosperity.
