Heine’s Insight: APEP Summit Impact

In a recent interview with the Latin America Advisor, Ambassador Jorge Heine, Research Professor at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and Interim Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, shared his insights on the current state of inter-American relations. He emphasized the significance of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) Leaders’ Summit hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on November 3, 2023.

Heine commended the summit as a positive development. Reflecting on the pressing need for sustainable infrastructure in Latin America and resilient value chains, Heine expressed optimism about the potential impact of APEP on inter-American relations.

“The need for more sustainable infrastructure in Latin America (whose infrastructure deficit seriously hampers its international competitiveness) and for more resilient value chains, much emphasized by President Biden at the meeting, is undisputable,” Heine stated.

As the Biden administration seeks to address these challenges, Heine highlighted the role of the Inter-American Development Bank and the allocation of resources to ensure the success of APEP. The summit, despite its limitations, presents an extraordinary opportunity for collaboration and addressing shared hemispheric interests among willing nations.

In the broader context, the interview touched upon the complexities of U.S.-Latin America cooperation, considering regional economic challenges and the administration’s efforts to engage with the hemisphere strategically. Heine’s insights shed light on the potential impact of APEP and the ongoing dynamics in the region.