Beyond Orthodoxy: Asserting Latin America's New Strategic Options Toward the United States

Abstract

This essay explores the possibility that Latin America may deploy new strategic options in its relations with Washington at the beginning of the twenty-first century. It starts by evaluating what have been the five major foreign policy models of the region with regard to Washington since the end of the Cold War. It proceeds by evaluating the recent dynamics of Latin American insertion into world affairs. Then it introduces three new alternatives for handling U.S.-Latin American relations in the coming years. It concludes by pointing out the importance of understanding the scope of the hemispheric challenges for both the region and Washington.

Washington and Latin America: A Considerable Indifference

“…This was done through influences from various state and non-state actors that have been developing a deeper contact with the region, and as such, facilitated diversification in mutual interactions. The expansion of Latin American horizons towards other global areas is in coincidence with the same fears that the United States has like the Middle East, for example (Russell and Tokatlián, 2011). Hakim (2006) on his part, with the experience that is gained through being in charge of Inter-American Dialogue, is emphatic and categorical when pointing out that both actors have divorced from one another.…”

“…Also the presence of other important actors of international relations in America (cases China, India, and Russia as examples), the failure of FTAA as a strategy that tried to involve, very forcibly, all the markets from the Rio Grande downwards south. Russell and Tokatlián (2011) worked on elucidating some dissimilarities between the different foreign policy models traditionally adopted by the Latin American countries regarding United States. According to them, the dialogue between US and Latin America is still alive.…”

“…Said alternative requires a higher level of consultation, as it is priority that Washington is prepared to collaborate with countries in the region and that the decision to do so goes both ways. Russell & Tokatlián (2011) are convinced that it is possible to move much beyond the traditional orthodoxy that wraps the bilateral relations of these two actors. According to them, it is precisely the visit made by president Obama in 2011 to the region a good sample about opening and wanting of cooperation between the White House and the Latin American countries.…”

Soft Power, Leverage, and the Obama Doctrine in Cuba

“…The assertion that the United States under Obama has lost influence in Latin America has been widespread. This was because his policies seemed the same as President Bush's (Randall ); because extrahemispheric actors have become more active in pursuing relations, to the point that “Latin America feels less of the predominance of the United States” (Russell and Tokatlian () while others are ascendant (Carpenter ); or because opportunities are routinely lost (Whitehead and Nolte ). The nature of “influence” itself tends not to be examined too closely.…”

Implications of the Global and Regional Changes for Argentina's Foreign Relations

“…With the United States, it has abandoned the strategy of 'coupling' and has implemented a strategy of 'limited opposition'. 7 Towards Brazil Argentina has pursued a strategy of accommodation, seeking to gain benefits but also to retain as much autonomy as possible. Finally, vis-à-vis China, Argentina has practiced a strategy of 'reliable engagement' that has provided clear benefits, but which also seems to be exhausting.…”