“One state of siege after another, the collapsing of democratic freedoms, of due process and political rights — Bukele and Noboa have introduced this kind of politics, and that is very much what I think we’re going to expect from both Keiko [Fujimori] and [Abelardo] De la Espriella.”

South America’s political map is virtually unrecognizable from just a few years ago as far-right reactionary — and Western-backed — governments sweep the region: Keiko Fujimori assumed office Tuesday as Peru’s next president, Abelardo de la Espriella is set for inauguration in Colombia next week, Jair Bolsonaro’s son Flavio is confirmed to challenge Lula in Brazil’s elections this fall.

Stephanie Weatherbee of the International People’s Assembly explains that in addition to normalizing the spectacle of shock-and-distract politics, Trump and his allies are actively exploiting real and perceived security threats to bolster “iron-fisted” regimes across the continent. She says all eyes should now be on São Paulo:

“The US has come to understand, after its most recent trade war with China, the importance of rare earth minerals — and Brazil has them. Brazil has a lot of them.”

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