Download - An Overview of United States Policies over South America

8/12/2019 An Overview of United States Policies over South America

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Running Head: US policies towards South America 1

An Overview of United States Policies towards South America

Muhammad Khubaib Sarfraz

Lahore School of Economics


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US-South America policies

Abstract

This paper gives an overview of policies adopted by United States towards South America. I will

evaluate several policies, assess them and make some recommendations. I will also look these

polices in detail and try to explain why they were implemented and what are their affects on

those countries. I will discuss whether countries in this area have any kind importance to United

States or it is in best interest of United States to stay out f the business of these countries. South

American countries include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French

Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela but due to words and time

constraint I will limit my discussion to few of these countries and policies.
http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blargentina.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blbolivia.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blbrazil.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blchile.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blcolombia.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blecuador.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blfrenchguiana.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blfrenchguiana.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blguyana.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blparaguay.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blperu.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blsuriname.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/bluruguay.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blvenezuela.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blvenezuela.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/bluruguay.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blsuriname.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blperu.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blparaguay.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blguyana.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blfrenchguiana.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blfrenchguiana.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blecuador.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blcolombia.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blchile.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blbrazil.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blbolivia.htmhttp://geography.about.com/library/maps/blargentina.htm


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Overview

South America with its twelve independent states is acontinent situated mostly in theSouthern

Hemisphere,with a relatively small portion in theNorthern Hemisphere.The continent is also

considered asubcontinent of theAmerica.It is bordered on the west by thePacific Ocean and on

the north and east by theAtlantic Ocean;North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the

northwest. For United States this region is the largest supplier of Oil and strong partner in

development of fuels. South America is fastest growing trading partner, the biggest supplier of

illegal drugs (mainly from Colombia), and largest source of legal and illegal immigrants to

United States. All of this reinforces deep U.S. ties and concerns with the region.

But instead, for decades experts have complained that Latin America only attracts the attention

of the State Department and others in Washington when there are wars or natural disasters. U.S.

leaders are always too distracted by other priorities to worry about this part of America. At a

time when much of the South America is experiencing economic and political instability and a

general reaction against free-market reforms that were partially implemented in the 1990s, the

United States should exercise its influence by opening its market to the regions goods and by

encouraging market reforms. Since the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement

with Mexico and Canada in 1993, however, the United States has shown no such leadership.

Instead, Washington promised to create a free-trade zone, known as the Free Trade Area of the

Americas, but made little effort to promote the idea. The result was unfortunate and a window of

opportunity was lost. Latin American countries that were keen to enter into an FTAA gradually

became disillusioned with years of U.S. inaction, and many have turned decidedly against the

idea of free trade. Thats whyother powers have begun to take notice. China, for one, seems to

have a strong strategic interest in a region where the U.S. is losing influence. China is Brazil and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Hemispherehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Hemispherehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Hemispherehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subcontinenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Americahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Seahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Americahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Oceanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subcontinenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Hemispherehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Hemispherehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Hemispherehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent


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Chile's main trading partner, and in 2009 and 2010, the China Development Bank agreed to lend

more than $35 billion to borrowers in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela. This

is three times what the Inter-American Development Bank approves every year for the region as

a whole. China has gained significant economic influence in Latin America, and Iran has forged

an unprecedented political presence with several countries there, notably Venezuela and others.

Russia has also made unique strides as a supplier to the armed forces of countries which, in the

past, mostly relied on U.S. companies for their arms supplies. According to former President Bill

Clinton the power of our example, not the example of our power which is true for Latin

America which shares American democratic values more than any other region. The US military

relationship with the region includes arms transfer, training of over 13,000 South American

military and police each year exercise and exchanges, bases, hundreds of deployments of US

personnels and wide verity of engagement activities.

Americas Quarterly, Hard Talk

by Moiss Nam

February 27, 2011


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Colombia

In 1810, when Colombia declared its independence from Spain, the United States was one of the

first countries to recognize the new republic. From the Korean War, during which Colombian

soldiers fought and gave their lives alongside Americans, to the current conflict in Afghanistan,

where elite Colombian soldiers contribute their expertise in fighting drug trafficking and

terrorism Colombia and the United States have been allies. United States policy towards

Colombia supports the Colombian Government's efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions,

promote respect for human rights and the intensify counter-narcotics efforts, foster socio-

economic development, address immediate humanitarian needs, and end the threats to

democracy posed by narcotics trafficking and terrorism. The United States shares Colombia's

vision of a successful democracy, free from narcotics and terrorism, which respects human rights

and the rule of law. To achieve these goals US policy objectives include:

Continue assistance to remove illegal drugs and terrorism, defend human rights, promoteeconomic, social and alternative development initiatives, reform and strengthen the

administration of justice

Enhance counterterrorism capability by providing advice, assistance, training andequipment, and intelligence support to the Colombian Armed Forces

Promote economic growth and development through support for market-based policiesand implementation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and the Andean

Trade Preferences Act (ATPA)

Substantially reduce the production and trafficking of drugs from Colombia bystrengthening counter-narcotics programs that assist with removal of illegal drugs,

advice, train, and assist counterdrug organizations and units.


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U.S. drug-control policy has failed. Despite recent annual expenditures of about $20 billion on

domestic law enforcement and supply reduction, U.S. drug use has not declined significantly

since the early 1990s. Under the programPlan Colombia, more than $6 billion was spent with

the stated goal of cutting coca cultivation in Colombia (the major producer) by 50% from 2000

to 2006, but in fact coca cultivation rose slightly. Not only has U.S. policy failed to achieve its

objectives, but the methods used to try to reduce supply, in particular, aerial fumigation

endangers and alienates near-by communities.

Another failed policy is immigration, which has been started since the mid-1990s mainly on

border control. Since 1996, the number of border patrol officers has more than tripled, and

currently a 700-mile-long, 16-foot "wall" is being constructed along the border at a cost of about

$9 billion. However, since 2000, the possibility that an illegal immigrant is apprehended at the

border has not risen significantly and the number of illegal immigrants from Latin America has

increased by roughly 40%. Laws against the hiring of illegal workers should be strictly

enforced, to this a new, Social Security card should be introduced, and fines against employers of

illegalsincreased. Upon strict enforcement at the workplace, the immigration control practices

at the U.S. border and U.S. consulates, which are prone to racial stereotyping and are often

demeaning, should become more humane.

On August 14, 2009 US and Colombian government signed an agreement known as Defense

Cooperation Agreement (DCA) which deepens the two-sided cooperation between both

countries. The DCA will cooperate Colombia on security matters which include

preventing narcotics production and trafficking, terrorism, illegal smuggling of all types, and

humanitarian and natural disasters.


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Bolivia

Although no other country in South America has experienced violence like Colombia but they

also suffered from several various problems. In Bolivia, controversy over benefits from newly

discovered natural gas reserves have added to tensions caused by the drug trade and increasingly

radical movements. Besides providing support to Bolivias counternarcotics efforts, the United

States has provided significant support and alternative development assistance, and it has

forgiven all of Bolivias debt for development assistance projects, and most of the debt for food

assistance. For the past several years, Bolivia has been among the largest recipients of U.S.

foreign assistance in Latin America. Bolivia received an estimated $116.5 million in fiscal year

2006, including some $79.2 million in counternarcotics funds.Despite initial cooperation US-

Bolivia relations get worse in 2006, US officials become concerned about Bolivian governments

commitment to combating illegal drugs, its increasing ties with Venezuela and Cuba, and its May

2006 nationalization of Bolivias natural gas industry.

Venezuela

United States-Venezuela relations have traditionally been close, mainly consist of important

trade and investment relationship and cooperation in combating the production and transit of

illegaldrugs. However, aggression by U.S. administrations increased after the socialist

PresidentHugo Chvez assumed elected office in 1999. Tensions between the countries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreational_drug_usehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vezhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vezhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreational_drug_use


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increased after the administration of George W. Bush supported the Venezuelan failed coup

attempt in 2002 against Chavez. Venezuela broke off diplomatic relations with the U.S. in

September 2008 in unity withBolivia after a U.S. ambassador was accused of cooperating with

violent anti-government groups in that country, but relations were reestablished under

PresidentBarack Obama in June 2009. Despite Venezuela's stated desire for improved relations

with the U.S. and its appeals for mutual respect, tensions between both nations are still high as of

2012 due to continuity in U.S. foreign policy under Obama.

Brazil

Looking at South American countries, if we look atBrazil whichis the fourth largest democracy

in the world, the fifth largest nation, and among top ten largest economies in the world. Brazil

became independent in 1822 and has been through periods of military and democratic rule. The

current constitution and democracy were established in 1988. Brazil is increasingly a global

energy giant. Its uniqueness and resourcefulness lie in an energy mix of ethanol, hydropower,

and offshore petroleum that has given Brazil an energy self-sufficiency that is the envy of the

world

Brazil is the U.S.s 10th-largest trading partner, acquiring $39 billion in U.S. goods and $12.7

billion in U.S. services. The U.S. ran an $11 billion trade surplus with Brazil in 2010.

The United States and Brazil have enjoyed generally close relations for 200 years. The two

countries cooperate on trade issues, HIV/AIDS efforts, regional concerns, and the

internationalpeacekeeping operation.

In past years Presidents Bush and Lula signed an agreement to promote and increase the

worldwide trade in ethanol. Brazil and the United States are the top global ethanol producers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bushhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Venezuelan_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat_attempthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Venezuelan_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat_attempthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boliviahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obamahttp://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcbrazil.htmhttp://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minustah/http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/7981/54/http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/7981/54/http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/minustah/http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcbrazil.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boliviahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Venezuelan_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat_attempthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Venezuelan_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat_attempthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush


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involvement on a range of issues will inevitably lead to disputes with the United States and that

management of those disputes in a comprehensive and respectful manner will be very important

in maintaining and building strong friendly relations with United States.

Despite of disputes The United States increasingly regards Brazil as a significant power,

especially in its role as a stabilizing force in Latin America. The Obama Administrations

National Security Strategy states that the United States welcome Brazils leadership and seek to

move beyond dated North-South divisions to pursue progress on bilateral, hemispheric, and

global issues.


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america

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vision

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