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Latin American Program in the News: In Latin America, Obama Stresses Partnership

Cindy Arnson

Eric Olson was talked to NPR from Costa Rica where he witnessed the President Obama’s trip to San José.

Latin American Program in the News: In Latin America, Obama Stresses Partnership

President Obama traveled to Central America this weekend, to Mexico and then to Costa Rica, where he met with other leaders from the region. Host Rachel Martin speaks with Eric Olson of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, who attended the meeting.

"The northern part of Central America is now considered the world's most violent area, with homicides at record levels and some of the countries. Drug trafficking is coming in, going through, some of it is staying in these countries. And that local drug market has also become very violent. They're feeling vulnerable and they need U.S. and international support. The same time, I think the message that President Obama wanted to send was, yes, we're committed, yes, we'll partner with you but we need the region to take its own responsibilities, make some hard decisions involved reform, involving economic inclusion and dealing with poverty." - said Eric Olson

To listen to the interview or read the transcript, please click here.

About the Author

Cindy Arnson

Cynthia J. Arnson

Distinguished Fellow, Latin America Program
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Latin America Program

The Wilson Center’s prestigious Latin America Program provides non-partisan expertise to a broad community of decision makers in the United States and Latin America on critical policy issues facing the Hemisphere. The Program provides insightful and actionable research for policymakers, private sector leaders, journalists, and public intellectuals in the United States and Latin America. To bridge the gap between scholarship and policy action, it fosters new inquiry, sponsors high-level public and private meetings among multiple stakeholders, and explores policy options to improve outcomes for citizens throughout the Americas. Drawing on the Wilson Center’s strength as the nation’s key non-partisan policy forum, the Program serves as a trusted source of analysis and a vital point of contact between the worlds of scholarship and action.  Read more