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“This is a very busy time for the U.S. government teams handling Latin American affairs,” said Dr. Benjamin Gedan, deputy director of the Latin American Program at the Wilson Center, during the conference “The State of U.S.-Latin American Relations.”
The event was held online on Thursday, March 24. It was organized by the Department of International Studies at the School of Administration and Social Sciences of Universidad ORT Uruguay.
Dr. Benjamin Gedan is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University. He has published opinion pieces in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Miami Herald, and Foreign Policy.
Growing competition
Now that the Biden administration has completed its first year in office, there are many issues on the agenda between the United States and Latin America. Against a complex international backdrop, Dr. Gedan analyzed the current state of affairs, as well as the short- and medium-term outlook for relations between the United States and a continent where the various countries that make it up hold differing positions and face varying circumstances.
I want to begin by acknowledging a fact—whether positive or negative—about the region. U.S. policy in Latin America is facing increasingly stiff competition.
“Every relationship, investment, and visit by high-ranking officials has an objective related to this major competition. The United States is aware that it is not the only major player on the international stage and that it is a strategic partner,” the expert added.
“This competition has sparked doubts, tensions, and fears in Washington, as well as shifts in U.S. policy toward the region. It has been a profound, undeniable change that is not particularly effective in terms of maintaining relations, but it is a fact. We must acknowledge it and adapt,” the expert added.
Migration
“This is a very busy time for the U.S. government teams handling Latin American affairs,” said Dr. Benjamin Gedan, deputy director of the Latin American Program at the Wilson Center, during the conference “The State of U.S.-Latin American Relations.”
“Another very important factor continues to be migration. The influx of these migrants, in enormous numbers, creates a state of near-constant crisis at the border and in Congress as well.”
“When it comes to migration, the current response differs from that of the Trump administration, which ‘pressured Central American leaders to stem these flows,’” he said, adding: “There is now a greater effort to address the root causes of this issue, with significant investment in the economic development of those countries, as well as in the fight against corruption and democratic backsliding.”
“During the Trump administration, the country spent years without investing much political capital in the fight against corruption. Today, the United States is resuming a leadership role in these matters.”
The Summits of the Americas
“Another reason for President Joe Biden to focus his administration’s efforts on the relationship between the United States and Latin America is, precisely, the Summits of the Americas.” This June, the Ninth Summit of the Americas will take place in Los Angeles.
“This is a very interesting opportunity to meet with nearly all the leaders of the hemisphere. The preparations for this event are a crucial time to reflect on the relationship between the United States and Latin America.”
The expert noted that the White House has already released information on what it aims to achieve. Among its objectives are: building a sustainable future, strengthening public health systems, focusing on the migration response, and ensuring that democracies in the Americas are upheld.
The coronavirus
Regarding the coronavirus and vaccination, Gedan stated: “The United States played a leading role. More than half of all the vaccines it donated went to Latin America. To me, this is recognition that Latin America is a strategic trading partner.”
China's presence
Finally, the expert mentioned this country's concerns regarding China 's presence in Latin America.
“From Washington’s perspective, there is concern that China’s presence in Latin America could lead to significant problems related to democracy, security, human rights, and the environment.”
“Every interaction a Latin American country has with China is a source of concern and fear,” Gedan concluded. “There is intense competition between these powers. They are vying for diplomatic, commercial, and security ties in Latin America.”