James Bosworth on the "Orange Wave" Happening Across Latin America

What It Covers

James Bosworth, founder of Hexagon and author of the Latin America Risk Report, analyzes the "orange shift" of right-leaning leaders aligning with Trump across Latin America, covering Venezuela's post-Maduro transition, Bukele's security model, Argentina's inflation crisis, Brazil's 2026 election, and China's commodity dominance in the region.

Key Questions Answered

• •The Orange Shift Framework: Latin American leaders aligning with Trump form a coalition with a hard expiration date of January 2029. Analysts should treat this bloc as temporary, not structural, because Trump operates through personal relationships rather than doctrine, meaning successor administrations inherit no coherent policy framework to continue or build upon.
• •Venezuela's Oil Arrangement: Under the post-Maduro deal, Venezuelan oil now routes through US companies and US government bank accounts, with monthly payments sent to Delsea Rodriguez's government. Investors tracking Venezuelan assets should understand this arrangement resembles colonial resource extraction more than a democratic transition, with democratization remaining uncertain against consolidation of power.
• •Bukele's Investment Trap: El Salvador's security improvements under Bukele have not attracted foreign direct investment despite predictions they would. The reason: Bukele achieved security through corrupt deals and mass arrests of 2% of the adult population, not rule of law, signaling to private businesses that contracts signed under his government carry unacceptable enforcement risk.
• •Argentina's Boom-Bust Cycle: Milei reduced inflation from 200% to roughly 35%, but the Strait of Hormuz crisis pushes 2025 projections toward 40-45% rather than the targeted 25%. The structural risk is political: as soon as markets price in a Peronist return to power — as happened in 2019 under Macri — Argentina's economy will contract sharply before any election occurs.
• •China's Commodity Lock-In: China is the top trade partner for most Latin American countries, purchasing raw commodities like Brazilian soy, Chilean copper, and Peruvian iron while exporting cheap manufactured goods that undermine regional industrialization. Countries seeking to move up the value chain should prioritize trade agreements that mandate technology transfers and restrict Chinese firms from using bribery to win public infrastructure contracts.