In the new millennium, the goal of Central and South America is to guard their sovereignty, from the United States as well as all other nations. Today, many of the nations in Latin America are fighting to be considered equals in bilateral trade and foreign policy. They are also fighting to maintain independence and control over foreign presence and influence.
Currently, less than a tenth of U.S. military bases worldwide are in Latin America. The bases that are present are located in the most geopolitically strategic points like Columbia and are also found in areas rich in natural resources like Brazil, Chile, the Caribbean, and the Andes region. Many Latin American countries argue that when the U.S. is fighting the “war on terror,” it is a euphemism for a worldwide war for resources.
With regard to foreign presence in Central and South America, some are considered more desirable than others. The nations of ALBA (Bolivarian Alliances of the Peoples of the Americas), deemed to be leftist, have embraced foreign military powers although they had not done so historically. Countries like Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela have invited Russia to open bases in the future. Overall in Latin America, trade with China has seen an exponential increase and will continue to rise.
This region continues to take reins of its government and resources. The United States and other nations have taken notice. Consequently, the Obama administration recently listed Venezuela as a security threat. However, Venezuela blames the U.S. for its destabilization.
Read more about U.S. Venezuelan relations below:
Sooo…the US wants resources–cocaine.