Author: Fiona Edwards

Editor of the Eyes on Latin America website

A strong, fair and sovereign Brazil is an essential force for world peace: an interview with Elias Jabbour

"A strong, fair and sovereign Brazil is an essential force in the struggle for development and world peace. We need greater political, economic, trade and investment coordination with the People's Republic of China. The path of the Global South to socialism passes through the deepening of relations, at all levels, between the Global South and China." I interviewed Elias Jabbour, Professor at the Rio de Janeiro State University, author and Winner of the Special Book Award of China 2022, to discuss the situation in Brazil, the prospects for Latin American integration, the role of Brazil-China relations and the importance of resisting the US’s threatening new cold war agenda.

Let Cuba Live! The US cold war on Latin America and China is heating up

I had the great honour to speak at a recent webinar on the theme of ‘Ending US Aggression Against Cuba is Key to World Peace’ alongside a brilliant panel which included Cuban journalist Iroel Sanchez, Venezuelan Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Carlos Ron and Chris Hazzard Sinn Féin MP. Here I share a video and transcript of my contribution to the meeting.

Why progressive forces in Latin America oppose the US cold war against China

As President Biden escalates US aggression against China, opposing this new cold war is becoming an increasingly central discussion among leading progressives across the world, including in Latin America. This is because relations with China aid Latin American countries to pursue an independent foreign policy instead of being subject to US dictates.

US-backed banker Lasso prevails in Ecuador’s election – a disaster for the people

The US-led hybrid war on Ecuador’s left has succeeded in electing right-wing banker Lasso. The left, meanwhile, remains a major political force in Ecuador and will resist the avalanche of attacks to come. But it will need all the international solidarity it can get as it struggles against political persecution, to defend ordinary people’s living standards, and to resist the offensive on basic democratic rights and sovereignty.

Bolivia’s great victory against US imperialism and the immense challenges ahead

Luis Arce and the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) achieved a landslide victory in the first round of Bolivia’s Presidential election on Sunday 18 October 2020. This spectacular triumph was the culmination of almost a year of intense struggle, led by Bolivia’s working class and indigenous majority, to reverse the US-backed military coup of November 2019 which overthrew the country’s legitimate and democratically elected President Evo Morales.

China’s rise: an inspiration for Bolivia in the fight against US-imposed poverty and indignity

US imperialism’s determination to dominate the entire globe is plunging humanity into a dangerous new cold war. The US ruling class is absolutely desperate to stop the rise of China and is increasing its aggression on many fronts to achieve this goal – from economic warfare to militarily encircling China. Should the US succeed in its cold war, the consequences would be truly devastating not just for the Chinese people but for all of humanity. This reality is widely understood by the left in Latin America where the difference between how the US and China interacts with countries in Latin America is obvious and profound, the former based on relationships of domination and subordination and the latter based on a relationships of cooperation and mutual benefit.

US imperialism, climate catastrophe and the new cold war: interview with senior Nicaraguan minister Paul Oquist

It is clear that humanity is facing several extremely serious threats. The stakes in the struggles that are set to define the next decade will have seismic implications for the future of our species.

I met with Dr Paul Oquist, Nicaragua’s Secretary of the Presidency and National Policies and long-time representative of Nicaragua to the UN on climate change, to interview him on the launch of his new book ‘Equilibra: The Philosophy and Political Economy of Existence and Extinction’ which explores the multiple existential threats that are facing humanity.

Britain’s Theft of Venezuela’s Gold Is Part of Illegal US ‘Regime Change’ Agenda

On 2 July 2020, the High Court in the UK made the outrageous decision to approve the British government’s blatant theft of more than $1bn of Venezuela’s gold reverses deposited in the Bank of England. This is just the latest craven manoeuvre by the British government in its quest to be a loyal junior partner in the Trump administration’s efforts to overthrow the legitimate government of Venezuela.

In their criminal adventures to plunder Venezuela’s gold, oil and other lucrative resources both Britain and the US are exposing themselves before the entire world as having no interest at all in supporting human rights, freedom and democracy in Venezuela. On the contrary, both Britain and the US continue to demonstrate their utter contempt towards the Venezuelan people and their right to determine their own future.