National Security and Latin America: Challenges and Opportunities on Energy Cooperation

On March 11, 2008, the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs investigated the current and projected state of Latin America’s energy resources and its implications for regional stability and U.S. national security. Specifically, the Subcommittee conducted oversight with regard to the need for integration of U.S. national security and energy policies, and explored challenges and opportunities for energy cooperation in Latin America.

Witness List:

Mr. David Goldwyn, president of Goldwyn International Strategies LLC, an international energy consulting firm and former Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs, Counselor to the Secretary of Energy, and national security deputy to Ambassador Bill Richardson, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations under President Bill Clinton.

Mr. Paulo Sotero, director of the Brazil Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center, a non-partisan institute that fosters research, study, discussion, and collaboration among a full spectrum of individuals concerned with policy and scholarship in national and world affairs.

Dr. Ray Walser Ph.D., senior policy analyst for Latin America at The Heritage Foundation, was also a career Foreign Service Officer with the State Department, where he served for 27 years, where, among other locations, he was assigned to Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Nicaragua.

Mr. Eric Farnsworth, Vice President of the Council of Americas, an international business organization consisting of companies representing a broad spectrum of sectors, and a member of the Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy of the US Department of State.