Democracy under pressure, autocracy on the rise O P I N I O N Anton JieSamFoek In the 1990s it still seemed self-evident: democracy would triumph. The Cold War was over, dictatorships fell like dominoes, and elections became the new normal worldwide. But that hope is outdated today. According to research institutions like the V-Dem Institute and Freedom House, we now…
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and other stories from Latin and South America eyesonsuriname Amsterdam, June 13th 2025–While I sit quietly at lunch in the hotel somewhere in Northern Colombia, waiting for inspiration for a story about Venezuelan refugees who often cross from here to Aruba and Curaçao to escape the regime of first Hugo Chávez and now Mr. Maduro,…
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Looking for Investors eyesonguyana June 8th 2025 — The humid air of Georgetown clung to everything, a familiar embrace of salt and blooming frangipani. But beneath the city’s colonial charm and the rising hum of an emergent oil economy, a different kind of pressure was building. Not from the deep offshore wells, but from the…
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eyesonbrasil Amsterdam, June 7th, 2025 – Brazil’s international standing has taken a hit following Donald Trump’s blunt remark that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is “a showman, and a bad one.” While Lula has long been known for his charismatic leadership, his recent foreign policy decisions—particularly his refusal to classify drug cartels as terrorist…
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IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva Reaffirms Support eyesonsuriname Amsterdam, 25 april 2025–International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has once again reiterated her strong support for Argentina’s ongoing economic reform efforts. This reaffirmation came after a meeting with Argentine Economy Minister Luis Caputo during the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings held in Washington, D.C. Following…
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The Serious Fall of an Economic Giant eyesonsuriname Amsterdam, 23 April, 2025–Argentina was considered one of the ten wealthiest countries in the world in the early 20th century. It was a land of gauchos, tango, impressive agricultural production, and industrial progress. But today, Argentina is the symbol of a lost economic dream: a country trapped in a…
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Deepening Ties with Global South Powers eyesonsuriname Amsterdam – April 2025 — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will embark on a pivotal international tour in May, underscoring Brazil’s renewed focus on South-South cooperation and multilateral diplomacy. The trip includes two high-profile stops: Moscow and Beijing. Lula will begin his journey in Russia on May 9, where he…
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eyesonbrasil Amsterdam, April 22nd, 2025 – In the world of high-stakes interviews, where every word is scrutinized, even the sharpest minds can stumble. Supreme Justice Roberto Barroso recently found himself in hot water after an interview with The Economist revealed a rather inconvenient “truth glitch.” Whether it was a slip of the tongue or a…
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China Interferes in South American Border dispute eyesonsuriname Amsterdam, 20 april 2025– The long standing territorial dispute over the South American border region, named Essequibo, which is claimed by Venezuela, escalated into a crisis not too long ago. Fears are, it is escalating even faster, now that China tries to play its part and interferes. The dispute dates back many,…
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And Brazil’s Arco Norte. Opportunity for Suriname. eyesonsuriname Amsterdam, 15 April 2025–Plans by the Chilean government to develop the so-called Bioceanic Road Corridor and those of the Brazilian Arco Norte plan are both initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure and stimulating economic growth in South America. However, they differ in their focus and geographical scope. Both plans,…
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