The U.S. under Donald Trump has been redrawing its map of allies in Latin America…and not every country has made the cut. At the recent Shield of the Americas Summit, representatives from 12 Latin American countries, handpicked by U.S. President Donald Trump, convened to discuss joint security and anti-cartel operations.

In today’s episode, I recap the summit and discuss the implications for expats and investors across the region. I’ll dive into where political capital is currently flowing, and how this realignment will shape the future of Latin America.

Enjoy today’s episode!

IN TODAY’S EPISODE

• Tune in as I break down Trump’s plan for Latin America, and the second-order effects of controlling crime and cartels. Which countries are most aligned with the United States? 
• Which Latin American countries are investable now, and where is the region going in the next decade?
• Hear my thoughts on why Chile was represented by President-elect José Antonio Kast, leaving the current administration out in the cold.   
• Learn why who wasn’t invited may matter more than who was—and what that signals for the future of Latin America.

STAY IN TOUCH!

Stay informed about the latest news affecting the expat world and receive a steady stream of my thoughts and opinions on geopolitics by subscribing to our newsletter. You will receive the EMS Pulse® newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times; sign up now and receive my FREE special report, “Plan-B Residencies and Instant Citizenships.”

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398: Ecuador: Can One Man Lead a Nation Into a New Era? 

391: Davos: What Trump and Carney’s Speeches Really Mean

388: Trump Arrests Maduro: What Does It Mean For Latin America?

The post 400: Trump’s New Doctrine Could Reshape the Americas (And Your Plan-B) appeared first on The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup.

Longtime listeners of this podcast know that I have been talking about Latin America as the last real bastion of freedom for years. And the recent political shift away from its socialist past is clear evidence of this. 

In today’s episode, we take a look back at the highlights from the past year’s discussions of Latin America’s rising trend of freedom-oriented leaders like Javier Milei, Santiago Peña, Nayib Bukele, Jose Raúl Mulino, and more. You’ll see the clear evidence of what I’ve been shouting from the rooftops for years now: Latin America is the future. Enjoy!

IN TODAY’S EPISODE

• Listen in as I explain why Latin America has shifted away from socialism and towards pro-business and pro-freedom leadership
• Hear my breakdown of Javier Milei’s Davos speech and Argentina’s libertarian reset
• Learn why Paraguay and Paraguay have become top Plan-B destinations, in no small part thanks to their current leadership
• Find out why I’ve been calling Latin America the future hub for freedom for years now, and how these leaders are helping prove me more correct than even I could have imagined

STAY IN TOUCH!

Stay informed about the latest news affecting the expat world and receive a steady stream of my thoughts and opinions on geopolitics by subscribing to our newsletter. You will receive the EMS Pulse® newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times; sign up now and receive my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships.”

WEALTH, FREEDOM & PASSPORTS CONFERENCE, MARCH 6-7, 2026

Join us in Panama City from March 6-7, 2026, for our second annual in-person event, the Wealth, Freedom and Passports Conference! Prices go up after January 9th, and space is very limited, so reserve your tickets right away.

RELATED EPISODES

384: Panama’s Adult in the Room: President José Raúl Mulino

365: The Bukele Effect: Inside El Salvador’s Radical Transformation

355: Santiago Peña’s Paraguay: Latin America’s New Freedom Frontier

352: Javier Milei’s Argentina: What It Means For Expats And Freedom

The post 387: The Leaders Shaping Latin America’s Shift Toward Freedom appeared first on The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup.

El Salvador used to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world. It was ruled by ruthless gangs, riddled with unchecked violence, and had a government that had completely lost control. But in recent years, the country has undergone a rapid transformation. Now, tourists are returning, families walk the streets safely at night, and the country is now making headlines for very different reasons.

In today’s episode, I will walk you through the rise of President Nayib Bukele—from his early life to becoming the man behind the bold moves that are putting El Salvador back on the map. Whether you’ve been following Bukele for years or are just starting to pay attention, this is a story of transformation you need to hear.

IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

• Listen in to learn Nayib Bukele’s complete backstory—from businessman to revolutionary president
• Tune in for a full breakdown of Bukele’s six-phase economic transformation plan
• Learn how El Salvador has become one of the safest countries in Latin America
• Hear my honest opinion about El Salvador as a Plan-B destination

THE EXPAT MONEY ONLINE SUMMIT 2025: THE FUTURE IS LATIN AMERICA

Join the Expat Money Online Summit 2025 for three high-impact days focused on why Latin America is becoming the ultimate destination for expats, investors, and freedom-seekers in 2025 and beyond. You’ll see firsthand how Latin America is changing, just like El Salvador has, through bold leadership, improved security and economic innovation.

You’ll gain exclusive insights from dozens of seasoned offshore experts as they reveal the best strategies to legally slash your tax bill, build real wealth overseas, and unlock second residencies and passports—all centred around Latin America’s rising power on the global stage.

Reserve your free ticket today.

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313: El Salvador: Is This Emerging Latin American Country Worth The Hype?

306: El Salvador: An Oasis of Decentralization – Dr. Jack Kruse

304: Expat News: Bukele’s Bitcoin Bank, Portugal Shuns Expats, & Milei’s Record Surplus

The post 365: The Bukele Effect: Inside El Salvador’s Radical Transformation appeared first on The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup.

For the freedom-minded, there’s plenty of doom and gloom where we look for it—wars, technocratic control systems, and economic collapse. But while most people stay stuck in fear or outrage, others are taking action. They’re securing second residencies, moving capital out of reach, and planting flags in places where freedom still has a fighting chance.

In today’s episode, I joined Hrvoje Moric on his program Geopolitics & Empire to discuss what I’m seeing on the ground: which countries are best for freedom-minded expats, how I separate fantasy from reality in the offshore space, and why I believe the path to sovereignty lies in pragmatic action—not black-pilled defeatism.

TODAY’S CONVERSATION WITH HRVOJE MORIĆ

• Listen in as I walk Hrvoje through my origin story—from being labelled with a learning disability to building a life of international freedom.
• Tune in as Hrvoje, and I discuss the repackaged push for a North American Union and why more centralization is the opposite of what the world needs.
• Discover why Panama, Paraguay, and Uruguay top my list of countries best set up for expats. 
• Find out how I’ve helped clients stay grounded and realistic about expat life—without buying into the fear porn or the sunshine-and-rainbows fantasies. 
• Hear my response to critics who overgeneralize Latin America—and why sweeping narratives miss the real, nuanced opportunities on the ground.
• Unpack how bureaucracies in many third-world countries’ inefficiency act as a feature, not a bug, when attempting to implement technocratic controls. 
• Learn why I favour tangible assets, like international real estate and precious metals, over manipulated stock markets. 
• By the end of this episode, it will be clear why I reject black-pilled defeatism and instead focus on practical, pragmatic strategies to preserve liberty and wealth.
  

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341: AI, Inflation & Economic Collapse: The Future Of Money – Thorsten Wittmann

340: Expat News: Trump Sends Rubio To Panama & Javier Milei’s Meme Coin Scandal

332: A Red-Pilled New Year’s

The post 345: Reject the Black Pill & Find Freedom Offshore appeared first on The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup.

There’s a freedom revolution quietly unfolding—and it’s not coming through politics. More and more people are taking matters into their own hands—setting up offshore structures, getting second residencies, diversifying their assets, and ensuring they’re not boxed in by failing systems. It’s not about fear—it’s about options and the ability to act on your own terms when things get messy.

In today’s episode, I sat down with Austrian economist Bob Murphy on The Bob Murphy Show to break down this transformation and share what I’m seeing on the ground with clients around the world.

TODAY’S CONVERSATION WITH BOB MURPHY:

• Tune in to hear Bob and me break down Trump’s showdown over the Panama Canal—and how it pushed China’s Belt & Road Initiative out of Panama.
• Discover why Nayib Bukele’s unapologetic leadership is turning heads—and what El Salvador is doing differently to attract global attention.
• Listen in as I share the story about purchasing pesos in Argentina’s “blue market”—this was wild!
• Get my take on Javier Milei’s bold reforms—what’s working, what’s not, and whether Argentina is on my expat radar yet.
• Learn why I’m deeply skeptical about a U.S. “strategic Bitcoin reserve”—and why it runs counter to everything crypto stands for.
• Find out how the Biden administration’s sanctions against Russia backfired—and accelerated the global de-dollarization trend.
• See how ordinary people are already being debanked—and how offshore tools like gold vaults and foreign accounts can offer protection.
• Hear my response to Americans who say, “We need to stay and fight”—and why I think there’s a smarter way to go about it.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

Keep up to date on the latest news affecting expats, as well as maintain a steady stream of my opinions, travel stories, and more by subscribing to our newsletter. Not only will you receive the EMS Pulse newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times, but sign up now, and you’ll also receive my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships.”

RELATED EPISODES

340: Expat News: Trump Sends Rubio To Panama & Javier Milei’s Meme Coin Scandal

338: Former Walmart Exec Finds Freedom Abroad – Xenia Schneider

332: A Red-Pilled New Year’s

The post 344: Don’t Just Stand and Fight—Position Yourself to Win appeared first on The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup.

Trump sending Marco Rubio down to Panama, a shocking election annulment in Romania, and a surprising new fast-track citizenship program are only a few of the big news stories that have been piling up since the latest edition of Expat News more than two months ago. 

This week, we are changing up the Expat News format a bit as I invite my dear friend and colleague Marc Clair to join me as my resident “news man” and make these episodes a little more of a back-and-forth format. 

Enjoy this breakdown of the latest headlines as Marc and I dive deep into all the geopolitical shifts and citizenship program changes on this latest edition of Expat News!

TODAY’S EDITION OF EXPAT NEWS:

• Listen in as Marc and I analyze Trump’s strategy behind sending Marco Rubio to Panama and what it means for US-Panama relations.
• Tune in as we break down the annulled election in Romania—was this Brussels flexing its power over an uncooperative leader?
• Find out why Panama’s new associate membership in Mercosur could change the game for residency and trade opportunities in Latin America.
• Hear my take on Javier Milei’s disastrous endorsement of a crypto coin—what was he thinking?!
• Learn about New Zealand’s struggling investor visa program—why has it failed so badly?
• Unpack Spain’s insane 100% tax on non-EU real estate buyers—are they intentionally pushing expats out?
• Discover Sierra Leone’s intriguing new fast-track citizenship program—could this be a sleeper opportunity?
• Explore why the UAE’s new Golden Visa for content creators might just be a brilliant marketing move.

THE WEALTH, FREEDOM & PASSPORTS CONFERENCE IN PANAMA MARCH 14-15!

Join us in Panama for the inaugural Wealth, Freedom & Passports Conference, our first-ever large conference event, taking place in Panama City, Panama, March 14-15, 2025!

This is your chance to gain invaluable insights, connect with like-minded freedom seekers, and, most importantly, meet with 20+ of the most trusted partners necessary to secure a prosperous life offshore.

Head to ExpatMoney.com/Conference to learn more and secure your spot right away!

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

You would have already heard about many of these new items if you had been subscribed to our newsletter. You will receive the EMS Pulse newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times; sign up now and receive my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships.”

ARTICLES MENTIONED:

Trump Sends Rubio To Curb China’s Influence In Panama

The Practical Implications of Panama Joining Mercosur

Romania’s Annulled Election: Unpacking The Consequences

RELATED EPISODES

330: Expat News: French Government Collapses, Trump Threatens BRICS With Tariffs

322: Expat News: Panama Keeps Investor Visa Price, Trump to End Double Taxation Of Expats?

310: Expat News: Why The Wealthy Are Leaving The US, Dominica Revokes Passports, A 90% Tax In France

The post 340: Expat News: Trump Sends Rubio To Panama & Javier Milei’s Meme Coin Scandal appeared first on The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup.

Long-time listeners know I was born in Canada, but it’s been a long time since I’ve considered it “home.” Today’s guest is a lifelong Canadian who has been podcasting for the past six years about faith, family, life in Canada and the topics that divide us. Shaun Newman has spent years questioning the systems around him, from the hockey rink to the political arena, offering his unique perspective from inside a rapidly declining Canada.

In this episode, Shaun joins the show to explain Canada’s horrifying slide toward socialism over the last decade. We discuss Trudeau’s recent “resignation” and why a country so rich in resources struggles under socialism. Shaun unpacks the devastating impact of Canada’s socialist policies and explains how these policies have eroded individual freedoms in the Great White North.

TODAY’S CONVERSATION WITH SHAUN NEWMAN

• Tune in to find out how Shaun convinced me to travel to my native Canada for his Cornerstone Forum last year—it wasn’t easy!
• Hear Shaun’s take on Trudeau’s “resignation” and what we can expect from the next Prime Minister.
• Learn why Canada should be one of the wealthiest countries in the world – and how its descent into socialism has hampered its potential.
• Uncover the truth about Canada’s insane “carbon tax” and all the shocking ways Canadians are being taxed. 
• Will Trump make Canada the next U.S. state? Shaun and I discuss Trump’s claims about the future of Canada’s relationship with the U.S. 
• Shaun and I explore the success of leaders like Nayib Bukele and Javier Milei and whether Canada can find its own visionary leader to guide them toward freedom.
• Listen as Shaun unpacks the UN’s Agenda 2030 and its implications for Canadian sovereignty.
• Hear Shaun’s thoughts on an offshore Plan-B and whether he’d consider the expat life if Canada continues in the wrong direction.
• Learn about Canada’s horrifying “medically assisted dying” (MAID) program and the shocking statistics about how it’s being used. 
• By the end of this episode, you’ll fully understand why so many Canadians are reaching out to craft offshore Plan-Bs or considering leaving Canada altogether.

WHERE TO FIND SHAUN NEWMAN:

Check out the Shaun Newman Podcast 

Follow Shaun Newman On X

THE WEALTH, FREEDOM & PASSPORTS CONFERENCE IN PANAMA CITY, MARCH 14-15

Join us in Panama for the inaugural Wealth, Freedom & Passports Conference, our first-ever large conference event in Panama City, Panama, March 14-15, 2025!

This is your chance to gain invaluable insights, connect with like-minded freedom seekers, and, most importantly, connect with 15+ of the most trusted partners necessary to secure a prosperous life offshore.

Head to ExpatMoney.com/Conference to learn more and secure your spot right away!

STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THE EXPAT WORLD

Sign up for any of our newsletters, like the EMS Pulse and the Expat Sunday Times, to stay up-to-date with a steady stream of news and my opinions on the expat world. Download my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships,” today, and you’ll be signed up for both!

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332: A Red-Pilled New Year’s

331: 2025’s Greatest Hits: The Year In Review

325: Trump’s Election & What It Means for Your Offshore Plan-B

The post 335: Canada: How Socialism Is Destroying The Great White North – Shaun Newman appeared first on The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup.

What if you had a crystal ball and could see ahead into the next year? Well, I may not have a crystal ball, but I do have my good friend Doug Casey, who I welcome back once again this year to peer into his crystal ball and share what he sees coming in the world of geopolitics and international investing in 2025. 

Doug is the founder of International Man, a best-selling author known for his High Ground novel series, and a world-renowned speculator and libertarian philosopher. He has garnered a well-earned reputation for his controversial insights into politics, economics, and investment markets. Over the past few years, Doug has become a trusted friend and mentor. He’s always a blast to talk to, and I know you’ll agree!

TODAY’S CONVERSATION WITH DOUG CASEY

• Discover which region Doug considers the “place to be” for escaping wokeness and the “wholesale stupidity” of the West.
• Hear the incredible story of the massive return Doug made on a penthouse apartment he bought in Hong Kong during the ’80s—this one’s wild!
• What does Doug think about Javier Milei and the future of Argentina? Join us as we explore this country that’s been getting a lot of love from libertarians lately.
• Learn about the South American country Doug has his eye on—one you’d never expect as an investment hotspot.
• Get Doug’s bold prediction for gold and silver prices in 2025—he nailed it last year!
• Don’t miss Doug’s #1 piece of advice for heading into 2025—a message you’ll want to take to heart as the New Year approaches.

PUT YOUR PLAN-B INTO ACTION: THE WEALTH, FREEDOM & PASSPORTS CONFERENCE – MARCH 14-15, 2025

Join us in Panama for the inaugural Wealth, Freedom & Passports Conference, our first-ever large conference event, taking place in Panama City, Panama, March 14-15, 2025!

This is your chance to gain invaluable insights, connect with like-minded freedom seekers, and, most importantly, connect with 15+ of the most trusted partners necessary to secure a prosperous life offshore.

Head to ExpatMoney.com/Conference to learn more and secure your spot right away!

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

Keep up to date on the latest news affecting expats, as well as maintain a steady stream of my opinions, travel stories, and more by subscribing to our newsletter. Not only will you receive the EMS Pulse newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times, but sign up now, and you’ll also receive my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships.”

JOIN US NEXT FEBRUARY TO TOUR PARAGUAY IN STYLE!

Join us for eight amazing days of travelling, sightseeing, and investment tours, starting in the capital, Asuncion, with time in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, plus a visit to the extraordinary Iguazu Falls. Learn more over at ExpatMoney.com/Paraguay. If you’re interested in joining, email Susan herself at trips@expatmoney.com to secure your spot and answer any questions. 

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324: Why An Offshore Plan-B Is The Best Insurance Against Politics

279: Doug Casey’s Crystal Ball – Predictions For 2024

277: Mikkel Unleashed: A Raw Take On Today’s Tumultuous World

The post 329: Doug Casey’s Crystal Ball For 2025: What Will Happen Next? appeared first on The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup.

A Bitcoin bank in El Salvador? That’s the headline that sits atop this week’s Expat News, the third edition in this series, where I analyze the latest news affecting the expat world. We’ve had a lot of really great feedback about this new segment we’re doing on the show, so I do plan on making this a regular aspect of the show, so enjoy today’s Expat News!

TODAY’S EDITION OF EXPAT NEWS:

• Listen in and get my take on El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s place to create a “Bitcoin bank.”
• Learn about Portugal’s “brilliant” new housing policy, which is primed to scare off expats.
• Is Javier Milei really turning Argentina around? Argentina’s reported record surpluses seem to suggest that he may be seeing some success on the economic front.
• Could Turkey become the next expat crypto hub? Hear me dissect the recent announcement that the country will exempt profits from cryptocurrencies from taxation. 
• Discover which Caribbean nation is raising its CBI prices, as I have been warning about for some time. 
• Should there be concern over Mexico’s newly elected socialist President, Claudia Scheinbaum? I’ll examine her policies and how they could affect expats in the country.
• Uncover which Latin American country I am definitely not recommending for expats, particularly considering recent political events in that country.
• Lastly, we’ll look at the recent plea deal that freed heroic journalist Julian Assange.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

How are you enjoying these “Expat News” segments? Visit the Expat Money Forum, join our community, and let me know your thoughts!

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

You would have already heard about a few of these new items if you had been subscribed to our newsletter. Not only will you receive the EMS Pulse newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times, but sign up now, and you’ll also receive my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships.”

RELATED EPISODES

299: Expat News: Panama’s New President, Millionaires Fleeing The US, and Malaysia’s Hilarious Visa Flop

287: Expat News: Canadian Exodus, Panama’s Visa Boom, & El Salvador’s Pricey Citizenship

282: Are We Headed Towards World War 3? – Ron Paul

CONCLUSION

I hope you enjoyed this third edition of Expat News. A lot goes into these episodes, from sourcing the articles to laying out my thoughts and forming my opinions, but I really enjoy doing them and will continue to do these regularly so long as interest remains. Hopefully these help to keep you informed about everything affecting expats in this rapidly-changing world.

Are you a fan of these expat news episodes? Be sure to let us know, and I’ll see you back here next Wednesday.

The post 304: Expat News: Bukele’s Bitcoin Bank, Portugal Shuns Expats, & Milei’s Record Surplus appeared first on The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup.

Today, I want to introduce a new segment in the show, one that my team and I have been talking about internally for a while. It will be known for now as “Expat News.”

The idea is that every quarter or so, as I’m reading the news or going through government websites and I see changes to immigration and programs and things that affect the offshore and expat space, I’ll do one of these episodes breaking it all down. 

So enjoy this premier edition of Expat News, where we’ll discuss a number of stories from the wave of migration from Canada to the popularity of Panama’s investment visa to El Salvador’s interesting – and pricey – citizenship program. Enjoy!

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

This episode was a little bit of an experiment, so I really would appreciate all of your feedback. Would you like to see more “Expat News” segments in the future? Head over to the Expat Money Forum, and let me know what you think!

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

If you’ve listened to this episode and aren’t on our newsletter yet, what are you waiting for? Not only will you receive the EMS Pulse newsletter and the weekly Expat Sunday Times, but sign up now, and you’ll also receive my FREE special report, “Plan B Residencies and Instant Citizenships.”

RELATED EPISODES

282 Are We Headed Towards World War 3? – Ron Paul

277: Mikkel Unleashed: A Raw Take On Today’s Tumultuous World

208: From USA To Panama an Expat Story – Angela

CONCLUSION

I hope you enjoyed this premier edition of Expat News. I know you’re all busy and probably won’t catch every nugget of expat-related news that passes by, and it’s the same for me. Luckily, I have a team of expert researchers here at Expat Money who make sure the most important stories don’t pass me by, allowing me to give you my thoughts here on the podcast. 

Are you a fan of this type of segment? Be sure to let us know, and I’ll see you back here next Wednesday!

The post 287: Expat News: Canadian Exodus, Panama’s Visa Boom, and El Salvador’s Pricey Citizenship appeared first on The Expat Money Show - With Mikkel Thorup.