latin america

United States Foreign Policy on Latin America

Introduction

The United States has a historic relationship with Latin America . Their relationship goes back to the early 19th century . It has transformed to a large extent in the fast few years . The US foreign policy always has a special focus on the ties with Latin American countries . Latin America countries Argentina and Brazil always have been dependant on the US during financial crises . The United States also has shown considerable interest in the affairs of other Latin American countries such as Chile Cuba

, Panama , Colombia , Mexico and Venezuela

The United States never had an easy relationship with some Latin American countries . Its policies towards Cuba , Venezuela and Colombia have drawn widespread criticism across the globe . In the past , the United States intervened in the internal affairs of many countries in Latin America citing the danger to the US interests in the Western Hemisphere

US - Latin American Relations in the Past

During the early 19th century , Spanish colonies in Latin America witnessed a series of wars of independence . Threats of foreign intervention in the Western Hemisphere raised serious concerns in the United States . European countries such as Austria , France , Prussia and Russia had their own interests in Latin America . To tackle the foreign intervention , the US President Monroe announced a new foreign policy on Latin America , known as Monroe Doctrine (Berquist , 118

The Monroe Doctrine had some key points . It urged to close the Western Hemisphere for further European colonization . It also advocated non-interference with the existing European colonies . Intervention of the European countries in the Western Hemisphere would be regarded as dangerous to the peace and safety of the Untied States (Berquist 119

The United States has invaded Cuba four times since 1900 (Henderson et . al , 145 . The US intervention in Cuba 's internal affairs has been criticized by the world leaders . The US always has been against the policies of the Cuban leadership . It justified the action of invasion by proclaiming that it has the right to preserve Cuban independence

In 1902 , then US President Roosevelt persuaded Great Britain , Germany and Italy not to invade Venezuela to collect debts . Instead they refer the matter for international settlement . It was possible only because of the diplomatic initiative taken by the US . In to gain control over the Panama Canal Zone , the United States provoked Panama to revolt against Columbia in 1903 . The US warships put a blockade around Colombia to prevent the country from suppressing the revolution (Brien , 94

In the past , the US foreign policy towards Latin America was considered as hostile . However , now the situation has changed to great extent . In the past few decades , the US tried its best to overcome the hostility that many Latin Americans felt towards it . The economic and trade relationship between the US and Latin American countries significantly improved

Existing US Foreign Policy on Latin America

I ) Economic Policy under the Clinton Administration

President Bill Clinton assumed power when the relationship between the...