The recent discovery of offshore energy reserves and the diminishing sway of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez have been a boon for Brazil’s regional influence.

The U.S. Federal Reserve made emergency rate cuts in the face of market pressure. Other central banks appear more hesitant, citing fears of inflation.

John M. Walsh of the Washington Office on Latin America says the failure of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s major reform proposals at the polls was a surprise, and represents a “heavy defeat.”

The defeat of Venezuela’s constitutional reform referendum marks a significant setback to President Hugo Chavez’s bid to expand his socialist revolution.

As Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez moves to enact sweeping constitutional reforms, signs of discontent grow—even among supporters.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez are mending ties despite their ideological differences.

This Foreign Policy article has an interesting take on Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez, saying he is not a threat for all the obvious reasons but for an overlooked one -- his "dangerous incompetence."

In an echo of the 1960s, Venezuela, Russia, and Bolivia are among a number of countries trying to renationalize the property of multinational corporations.

A discussion of the Venezuela economy and it's relationship to oil, and how the coming collapse could be seen either as a result of the oil market changing, or the result of the government's mismanagement of the economic policy.

In an echo of decades past, President Hugo Chavez has set a deadline for seizing oil assets of U.S. and European companies operating in Venezuela.

Since winning reelection in December, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has moved swiftly to advance his “21st Century Socialism.” As Chavez-friendly leaders take office in Ecuador and Nicaragua, will they do the same?

Francisco R. Rodriguez, assistant professor of economics and Latin American studies at Wesleyan University, discusses Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's economic policies and argues that his social programs do not actually help the poor.

Richard Lapper, author of a new Council Special Report on U.S.-Venezuela relations and Latin America editor of the Financial Times, discusses Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's reelection.

President Hugo Chavez sailed to easy victory in Venezuela's presidential elections, despite a strong showing by the opposition.

Richard Lapper, Latin American editor of the Financial Times, discusses what to expect from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in his next term.

With polls showing Chávez strongly in the lead in the December 3, 2006, Venezuelan presidential election, the United States needs to prepare for another six-year term with the controversial leader. This report proposes a new strategic framework for U.S. policy toward Venezuela. This report is also available in Spanish.

“Chávez’s bark...is far worse than his bite,” says a new Council Special Report, which urges U.S. officials to “look beyond his blustery rhetoric…as long as Chávez does not take steps that fundamentally threaten essential U.S. interests in Latin America.” With polls showing Chávez strongly in the lead in the upcoming December 3 Venezuelan presidential election, the United States needs to prepare for another six-year term with the controversial leader.

Hugo Chavez's recent world tour secured arms deals and an energy pact with a U.S. nemesis, Iran, but it's unclear whether the Venezuelan president's oil-fueled rise is sustainable.

A row over landing rights threatens to further strain U.S. relations with Venezuela. The dispute comes at a time when diplomacy with South America is already fraught with tension.

Secretary Rice and U.S. public diplomacy chief Karen Hughes travel to South America this week for the inauguration of Chile's first woman president, Michelle Bachelet. The trip could signal a new focus on South America, at a time when a growing number of leftist governments in the region pose questions for U.S. policies there.