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 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.

The deadly combination of coronavirus and neoliberalism in Latin America

Latin America has become a new epicentre of the global coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, as the death toll rapidly increases in countries with US-backed neoliberal governments. In particular, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru seem to be seriously mishandling the public health crisis.

L’Amérique latine se prépare à la crise des coronavirus – les pays en développement ont besoin de solidarité et non de sanctions

Le coronavirus se répand rapidement dans un certain nombre de pays d'Amérique latine, menaçant la vie de millions de personnes sur le continent. Dans cette situation de vie et de mort, les populations d'Amérique latine ont besoin de solidarité et d'assistance pour faire face à une crise qui a submergé les systèmes de santé de certaines des économies les plus riches et les plus avancées du monde.

La réponse des gouvernements d'Amérique latine a jusqu'à présent varié considérablement. Les pays dont les dirigeants sont orientés vers le socialisme ont adopté des mesures préventives strictes. En revanche, le président d'extrême droite du Brésil, Jair Bolsonaro, poursuit l'approche inverse, se joignant à Donald Trump pour minimiser totalement la crise et ne pas agir, ce qui risque de provoquer une catastrophe et des morts en masse dans un pays de 210 millions d'habitants.

América Latina se prepara para la crisis del coronavirus: los países en desarrollo necesitan solidaridad, no sanciones

El coronavirus se está propagando rápidamente en varios países de América Latina, lo que supone una amenaza para la vida de millones de personas en todo el continente. En esta situación de vida o muerte, la población de América Latina necesita solidaridad y asistencia para hacer frente a una crisis que ha desbordado los sistemas de salud de algunas de las economías más ricas y avanzadas del mundo.

La respuesta de los gobiernos de América Latina ha variado considerablemente hasta ahora. Los países con un liderazgo de orientación socialista han adoptado estrictas medidas preventivas. Por otra parte, el presidente de ultraderecha del Brasil, Jair Bolsonaro, está siguiendo el enfoque contrario, uniéndose a Donald Trump para restarle importancia a la crisis y no tomar medidas, lo que supone un riesgo de catástrofe y de muertes masivas en un país de 210 millones de personas.

Latin America braces for coronavirus crisis – developing countries need solidarity not sanctions

The coronavirus is spreading rapidly in a number of countries in Latin America – posing a threat to the lives of millions of people across the continent. In this life and death situation the people of Latin America need solidarity and assistance to deal with a crisis that has overwhelmed the healthcare systems of some the world’s richest and most advanced economies in the world.

The response of governments in Latin America has so far varied considerably. Countries with a socialist oriented leadership have adopted strict preventative measures. On the other hand the ultra-right wing President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, is pursuing the opposite approach, joining Donald Trump in totally downplaying the crisis and failing to take action, which risks catastrophe and mass deaths in a country of 210 million people.