Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of Jair Bolsonaro, sits at the center of Brazil’s political divide as he pursues the presidency amid disputes over governance and deforestation policy.
New data shows the Atlantic forest and Amazon have recorded lower deforestation in 2025, but forest degradation and legislative risks threaten potential gains amid El Niño and political pressure on enforcement.
The United States has reaffirmed support to its Latin American allies amid ongoing protests in Bolivia as President Paz reshuffles his cabinet and faces strong domestic opposition. Washington has linked regional security to counter-narcotics networks and expanded its hemispheric involvement through the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C). Protests continue as Bolivian authorities deploy measures to restore order.
U.S. designates Brazil's two largest criminal gangs as terrorist organizations, a move that has drawn Brazil's government into a debate over sovereignty and potential intervention. The designation follows political pressure ahead of October elections and has sparked pushback from Lula's administration, which warns of risks to information sharing and internal security cooperation.
Lula has maintained a lead in polling for the October election, but surveys show growing discontent among younger Brazilians. Datafolha and Quaest show varying margins, with young voters wavering as right‑leaning sentiment grows. Campaigns are intensifying as rivals court new blocs amid ongoing financial strain and corruption scrutiny.
Colombia, Peru and Brazil are moving right in a regional shift that could reshape how the Amazon is managed. De la Espriella in Colombia has secured a narrow win, while Peru is poised to elect Fujimori. Brazil faces a high-stakes election that could redefine environmental policy amid deforestation concerns.
A series of court rulings restricts high-profile political figures as Lula’s government pushes anti-deforestation efforts. Bolsonaro remains under house arrest for a 2022 coup attempt, while Bolsonaro’s political allies face ongoing legal actions amid a tense presidential race.
Colombia’s presidential runoff winner is under pressure over US citizenship and possible conflicts of interest. Senator Iván Cepeda has urged Abelardo de la Espriella to renounce his US citizenship and clarify whether he is an agent of the United States. Cepeda warns of civil disobedience if legality conditions are not met.
Brazil's deforestation rate has fallen by half in Lula's first year back in office, with 1,295 sq km cleared from January to June, the lowest since 2016. Lula defers to his government on zero-deforestation targets while facing criticisms over oil exploration near the Amazon mouth and shifting U.S. tariffs amid a tight election race.
Senior U.S. State Department officials planned to visit Brazil to discuss election integrity, but Brazil denied their visas, saying the visit was seen as interference in the October presidential election between Lula da Silva and Bolsonaro. The denial follows earlier reporting by The Washington Post and Reuters about a possible U.S. attempt to influence Brazils electoral process.