Julia Sweig examines Vice President Biden's upcoming trip to Brazil, Colombia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Julia Sweig discusses the appointment of Miguel Diaz-Canel, the new first vice president of Cuba and the "name and the face of the Post-Castro era."

Despite changes in both U.S. and Cuban leadership since early 2008, experts do not anticipate any normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations in the near to medium term.

Julia E. Sweig argues that the post-Castro era was ushered in by Raul Castro's implementation of new reforms on the island.

The argument for sustained U.S. diplomatic engagement with Havana has never been more compelling, says CFR's Julia Sweig.

Julia E. Sweig argues the United States has been a marginal actor in Latin America, but this could change in the Obama administration's second term.

Julia E. Sweig argues that Hugo Chavez never fulfilled his more ambitious plans for the region, but the polarizing Venezuelan leader can take at least partial credit for helping redefine South America's institutional architecture.

Julia E. Sweig argues that President Obama has an opportunity to revitalize U.S. relations with its neighbors to the south.

Graham Allison ("The Cuban Missile Crisis at 50," July/August 2012) seems to believe that U.S. President John F. Kennedy's handling of the Cuban missile crisis was an unalloyed success.

Stephen Sestanovich offers a rebuttal to Leslie H. Gelb's reading of the Cuban missile crisis.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Declaration on Small Arms And Light Weapons was agreed upon at the CARICOM meeting from June 30- July 4, 2011 in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.

The White House, under George W. Bush, released this fact sheet on the Third Border Initiative on April 21, 2001.

CFR's James M. Lindsay remembers the Bay of Pigs invasion, which began on April 17, 1961, and discusses the importance of preparing for failure and planning accordingly.

As Cuba drills its first offshore oil well, the United States should anticipate the possibility of an oil spill, implementing policies that would help both countries stem and clean up a spill in a way that is minimally disruptive to the United States' Cuba strategy.

Under President Raul Castro, Cuba has begun economic and political reforms while bolstering ties with Brazil and the Vatican. But Washington has failed to seize on opportunities for expanding relations, says CFR's Julia E. Sweig.

Julia E. Sweig analyzes the significance of the first-ever Communist Party Conference in Cuba.

Julia E. Sweig discusses Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff's upcoming visit to Cuba.

Elliott Abrams discusses the Castro regime's prisoner release, in which USAID contractor Alan Gross was not included.

Captain Melissa Bert, USCG, argues that as Cuba moves ahead with plans for a mobile offshore drilling unit, the United States must incorporate Cuba in emergency response coordination and joint operations, work through sanctions hurdles, and properly fund a response to a potential disaster.

This declaration, signed on December 3, 2011, created the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), a Latin American integration political and economic bloc, in response to the Organization of the American States.