Paul Lettow

Former Adjunct Senior Fellow.

Former senior director for strategic planning and institutional reform, National Security Council staff. Author of Ronald Reagan and His Quest to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Random House, 2005) and the recent Council Special Report Strengthening the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime.

EXPERTISE:

U.S. national security policy; nuclear nonproliferation; diplomatic history; structure and process of U.S. national security policymaking.

China

China’s Growing Influence in Latin America

For more than two decades, China has developed close economic and security ties with many Latin American countries, including Brazil and Venezuela. But Beijing’s growing sway in the region has raised concerns in Washington and beyond.

Backgrounder by Diana Roy January 10, 2025

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico: A U.S. Territory in Crisis

The Caribbean island, which shares a close yet fraught relationship with the U.S. mainland, faces a multilayered economic and social crisis rooted in long-standing policy and compounded by natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, migration, and government mismanagement.

Backgrounder by Diana Roy and Amelia Cheatham January 8, 2025

Latin America

Mercosur: South America’s Fractious Trade Bloc

Three decades after its founding, Latin America’s largest trade bloc continues to seek new global agreements. The recent conclusion of a deal with the European Union could help, but it faces roadblocks.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors December 12, 2024

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