12.3 Latin America's Relations with the United States

Latin America's relationship with the U.S. has been complex and often tense. From early policies like the Monroe Doctrine to Cold War interventions, the U.S. has wielded significant influence in the region.

Economic ties, including trade agreements and neoliberal policies, have shaped Latin American economies. Meanwhile, U.S. security initiatives and cultural influence continue to impact the region, sparking both cooperation and resistance.

U.S. Foreign Policy Doctrines

Early U.S. Policies Towards Latin America

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• Monroe Doctrine (1823) asserted U.S. opposition to European colonialism in the Americas and declared the Western Hemisphere off-limits to further European colonization or interference
  • Established the U.S. as the dominant power in the region and laid the foundation for future interventions
  • Used to justify U.S. interventions in Latin American affairs, such as the Spanish-American War (1898) and the occupation of Haiti (1915-1934)
• Good Neighbor Policy (1933) under President Franklin D. Roosevelt aimed to improve relations with Latin America by pledging non-intervention and cooperation
  • Sought to reduce U.S. military interventions and promote economic and cultural ties
  • Included the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Haiti and Nicaragua and the abrogation of the Platt Amendment, which had allowed U.S. intervention in Cuba

Cold War Era Policies

• Alliance for Progress (1961-1973) was a U.S. economic and social development program for Latin America initiated by President John F. Kennedy
  • Aimed to counter the appeal of communism and promote economic growth, social reforms, and democracy
  • Provided billions of dollars in aid for infrastructure projects, education, health care, and land reforms
  • Had mixed results due to corruption, political instability, and resistance from conservative elites
• War on Drugs policy, initiated by President Richard Nixon in 1971, focused on reducing drug production and trafficking in Latin America
  • Involved military aid, training, and operations to combat drug cartels, particularly in Colombia, Mexico, and Central America
  • Critics argue that it has had limited success in reducing drug supply and has contributed to human rights abuses, corruption, and violence

Economic Relations

Washington Consensus and Neoliberal Policies

• Washington Consensus refers to a set of neoliberal economic policies promoted by the U.S., the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank in the 1980s and 1990s
  • Emphasized privatization, deregulation, trade liberalization, and fiscal austerity as a prescription for economic growth and development
  • Implemented through structural adjustment programs that required Latin American countries to adopt these policies in exchange for loans and aid
  • Critics argue that these policies exacerbated poverty, inequality, and social unrest in many countries
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was a trade agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that took effect in 1994
  • Eliminated most tariffs and trade barriers between the three countries to promote economic integration and growth
  • Controversial due to concerns about job losses, labor rights, and environmental impacts
  • Renegotiated as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in 2018, with some changes to labor and environmental provisions

Security and Intervention

U.S. Security Policies in Latin America

• Plan Colombia (2000-2015) was a U.S. aid package to support Colombia's efforts to combat drug trafficking, guerrilla insurgencies, and paramilitary violence
  • Provided billions of dollars in military and economic assistance, including training, equipment, and aerial fumigation of coca crops
  • Helped to weaken the FARC guerrilla group and reduce violence, but also led to human rights abuses and displacement of rural communities
• U.S. immigration policies have had a significant impact on Latin American countries, particularly Mexico and Central America
  • Tightening of border security and deportations have separated families and disrupted communities
  • Demand for low-wage labor in the U.S. has encouraged undocumented migration, often in dangerous conditions
  • Remittances from migrants working in the U.S. have become a major source of income for many Latin American economies

Soft Power and Cultural Influence

• Soft power refers to the ability to influence others through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion or force
  • The U.S. has exercised soft power in Latin America through cultural exports (music, movies, television), educational exchanges (Fulbright Program), and public diplomacy (Voice of America)
  • American culture and values have had a significant influence on Latin American societies, but have also been met with resistance and criticism of cultural imperialism
• The U.S. has also used soft power to promote democracy, human rights, and civil society in Latin America
  • Supported election monitoring, media freedom, and anti-corruption efforts through organizations like the National Endowment for Democracy and USAID
  • However, these efforts have sometimes been perceived as interference in domestic affairs and have faced backlash from leftist governments critical of U.S. influence