Keeping score. Which presidents in Latin America have directly criticized Russia for invading Ukraine? Who’s been soft on Putin? And which countries signed declarations at the OAS and the UN? We’ve kept track so you can too: check out our coverage.

Looking (a little farther) east. In what can be seen as Latin America’s most important foreign policy development since the Cold War, the region’s drift from Washington to Beijing is speeding up, writes AS/COA’s Brian Winter for Foreign Affairs. Read why the Chinese are being welcomed as “the new gringos.”

AMLO’s dip. Sure, many leaders would be happy with an approval rating as high as 58 percent, but it’s the lowest level for Mexico’s Andrés Manuel López Obrador since his presidency started. What’s behind the drop for the Teflon president? See our tracker for more.

What’s coming up in Latin America?

• March 8: #8M marches and events are expected in a number of countries to mark International Women’s Day. Join AS/COA that day for a virtual talk with business executives about a new book on women’s empowerment.
• March 11: Gabriel Boric gets inaugurated as Chile’s next president. Hear about his electoral win.
• March 13: Colombia’s coalitions hold primary-like elections for presidential candidates and voters pick their next legislators. Read a who’s who in Colombia’s 2022 presidential race.

THEY SAID WHAT?

• Colombian presidential frontrunner Gustavo Petro says he’ll declare an “economic emergency” to bypass Congress if elected. (Bloomberg)

• Venezuela asks for U.S. sanctions to be lifted on its oil to correct for global supply worries. (The Wall Street Journal)

• Why is Bolivia full of contraband Japanese cars? (The Economist)

• The United States plans to reopen its consulate in Cuba four years after a “sonic attack” scandal. (AFP)

• Brazil just made its first batch of domestically produced AstraZeneca shots. It'll also be getting a technology transfer to produce Sputnik Light. (Forbes, Reuters)

• Bad math: Maduro says 102% of Venezuelans are vaccinated. (Human Rights Watch)

• Carnaval in Brazil was mostly canceled, except for private parties. (Folha de S.Paulo)