Amid Latin America’s undeniable successes, one problem, in particular, festered: organized crime was booming, thanks to growing demand for illicit drugs and goods from consumers in the United States, ...

South America is anticipated to expand by 2.6% in 2025, while Central America is projected to grow slightly faster at 2.9%, and the Caribbean (excluding Guyana) at 2.6%.

James Wagner covers Latin America, including sports, and is based in Mexico City. A Nicaraguan American from the Washington area, he is a native Spanish speaker.

Mexico, Central America and to a lesser extent Colombia — Washington’s closest South American ally — are “married to the U.S. economy. They got nine kids, there’s no divorce,” Garman said.