Venezuela: The Capture of a Tyrant and Uncertain Future
With the U.S. attack on Venezuela resulting in the capture of a tyrant, many questions arise about what’s next for Venezuela and who or what follows. All eyes are on Trump, but more attention should be given to Marco Rubio, the Cuban-American Secretary of State and “Hawk” with a personal crusade. Cuba is at the top of his list, and after Trump’s call to Petro in Colombia, the glass became blurry. Something will happen with Mexico, but many puzzle pieces are still missing. Trump’s statements to Fox News about launching ground attacks against cartels operating in Mexican territory break all the molds. Is it a bluff or a warning of what’s to come? How will this affect binational relations, what impact will it have on the levels of violence we experience, and what will happen to the renegotiation of the T-MEC?
Greenland: The Largest Island in the World Becomes a Strategic Asset
The unthinkable is happening with Greenland, the world’s largest island. A self-governing territory of Denmark with only 56,000 inhabitants. The U.S. has declared that having military bases in Greenland and Denmark being an ally is not enough; they need to annex it because the island and its surrounding waters have become strategic. With climate change, it’s easier to navigate the Arctic, and in the White House, they fear China and Russia using this route to undermine the U.S. These are crazy times, and Trump’s team is considering various options, including buying or militarily occupying Greenland. Keep in mind that Trump is requesting a 50% increase in the military budget, which will be $892 billion in the 2026 fiscal year.
Mexico: Inflation, Job Creation, and the Role of Technology
Inflation: The official inflation brought a surprise in December. Prices moderated and did not rise as much as in previous Decembers. This results in an annualized inflation rate of 3.69% for 2025, the lowest since 2020 when it was 3.15%. The INEGI data is so good that one must double-check the methodology (along with the supermarket accounts). Insurance surveys show that inflation remains one of the most concerning economic issues for Mexicans. It remains to be seen what happens in this January climb and how it is measured.
Job Creation: We now have the complete figures for formal job creation in 2025, totaling 278,697—30% more than in 2024. Can 2025 be compared to 2024? There is controversy, as the inclusion of platform workers in the IMSS plays a role. Dependents of Uber, Didi, Rappi, and similar platforms represented 205,000 formal jobs by the end of 2025. If we were to exclude platforms and compare apples to apples, only 72,176 formal jobs were created in the past year—the third-lowest since 2003.
Technology Showcase: Robots, NVIDIA, and AI in Las Vegas
Consumer Electronics Show: The first week of January hosts the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, one of the world’s most significant tech events for six decades. A window to the future, the conference featured Jensen Huang, NVIDIA’s CEO, who presented his vision of AI. It will continue producing texts, images, sounds, and intangibles but will be more connected to physical infrastructure—buildings and cars, for example. Despite being a consumer electronics show, there were refrigerators, coffee makers, and even smart mirrors utilizing AI to perform more complex tasks. A new generation of humanoid robots made their public debut. Samsung’s robot, resembling Robotina from the Supersonics, can wash, iron, and clean almost everything. However, there’s nothing in Las Vegas to fix the new global disorder.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the significance of the U.S. attack on Venezuela and its aftermath? The capture of a tyrant has left many questions about Venezuela’s future and the role of Marco Rubio, who has a personal crusade against Cuba. The situation in Colombia after Trump’s call to Petro also remains unclear.
- Why is Greenland becoming a strategic asset for the U.S.? With climate change making it easier to navigate the Arctic, the U.S. sees Greenland and its surrounding waters as crucial for security reasons, fearing China and Russia might use this route to undermine the U.S.
- What are the implications of the recent inflation and job creation figures in Mexico? Although inflation has moderated, it remains a concern for Mexicans. Job creation figures show a 30% increase in formal jobs from 2024 to 2025, but the inclusion of platform workers complicates direct comparisons.
- What were the highlights of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas? The showcase featured advancements in AI, with NVIDIA’s CEO presenting his vision for a more connected AI to physical infrastructure. New humanoid robots were introduced, but there were no solutions presented for the new global disorder.
