How US Relations With Latin America Could Look Under Donald Trump

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, left, flanked by Cuba’s Vice-president Miguel Diaz Canell, arrive to the Plaza de la Revolucion, in Havana, Cuba, Friday, March 18, 2016. Venezuela’s President Maduro flew to Cuba on Friday for a day of high-level meetings and ceremonies that appeared designed to send a message of socialist solidarity two days before Barack Obama becomes the first U.S. president to visit the island in nearly 90 years.
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, left, flanked by Cuba's Vice-president Miguel Diaz Canell, arrive to the Plaza de la Revolucion, in Havana, Cuba in March. The United States' relationship with countries like Cuba and Venezuela is one of the things observers are watching as the US transitions to a Trump administration. Ismael Francisco / AP Photo
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, left, flanked by Cuba’s Vice-president Miguel Diaz Canell, arrive to the Plaza de la Revolucion, in Havana, Cuba, Friday, March 18, 2016. Venezuela’s President Maduro flew to Cuba on Friday for a day of high-level meetings and ceremonies that appeared designed to send a message of socialist solidarity two days before Barack Obama becomes the first U.S. president to visit the island in nearly 90 years.
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, left, flanked by Cuba's Vice-president Miguel Diaz Canell, arrive to the Plaza de la Revolucion, in Havana, Cuba in March. The United States' relationship with countries like Cuba and Venezuela is one of the things observers are watching as the US transitions to a Trump administration. Ismael Francisco / AP Photo

How US Relations With Latin America Could Look Under Donald Trump

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As President Barack Obama visited Latin America, this weekend he assured leaders they can expect continued stability in U.S. relations with the region.

“The friendships we’ve established with countries like Peru, the reopening of diplomatic relations with Cuba, investments we’re making in trade, environmental policies and so forth — all those things I expect to continue,” said Obama told a group of students in Peru.

Still, many wonder what the future holds for relations with countries like Peru, Venezuela and Cuba.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday he hopes for improved relations after calling now President-elect, Donald Trump, a “bandit and thief” last year.

We talk about the future of U.S. relations with Venezuela and Latin America with David Smilde, senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). He’s curator of WOLA’s Venezuelan Politics and Human Rights blog and co-authored the edited volume, Venezuela’s Bolivarian Democracy: Participation, Politics and Culture under Chávez.