About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 1 (November 13, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govbbpu0001 and id is 1 raw text is: -' .r~ ......... Updated November 13, 2019 Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Overview U.S. interests in Latin America and the Caribbean are diverse and include economic, political, security, and humanitarian concerns. Geographic proximity has ensured strong economic linkages between the United States and the region, with the United States being a major trading partner and source of foreign investment for many Latin American and Caribbean countries. Free-trade agreements (FTAs) have augmented U.S. economic relations with 11 countries in the region. The Western Hemisphere is a large source of U.S. immigration, both legal and illegal; geographic proximity and economic and security conditions are major factors driving migration trends. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs from Latin America and the Caribbean has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region and a major interest of Congress for more than three decades. The flow of illicit drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl from Mexico and cocaine from Colombia, poses risks to U.S. public health and safety. Colombia has received long-standing support through Plan Colombia and its successor programs. For over a decade, the United States has engaged in close partnerships to combat drug trafficking and related violence and advance citizen security: the M6rida Initiative began in 2007 to support Mexico; the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) began in 2008; and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) began in 2009. ncreasing Cha ege in the Region Although many countries in the region have made enormous strides in terms of democratic political development since the 1980s, several Latin American and Caribbean countries currently are facing political and social unrest fueled by antidemocratic practices, corruption scandals, and poor economic conditions. * The political and economic crisis in Venezuela under the authoritarian rule of NicolAs Maduro has intensified over the past two years, resulting in mass migration to neighboring countries. * Bolivian President Evo Morales resigned on November 10, 2019, after weeks of protests alleging fraud in the country's October 20, 2019, presidential elections in which Morales was seeking a fourth term. * Since April 2018, the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has continued to use violence to repress the political opposition. * Honduran President Juan Orlando HernAndez is alleged to have received drug trafficking proceeds, according to U.S. federal court prosecutors who convicted his brother on drug charges in October 2019. * Since September 2019, more than 40 people have died in Haiti during widespread anti-government demonstrations against corruption and deteriorating economic conditions, with protesters and opposition forces calling for President Jovenel Moise to resign. * Ecuador experienced two weeks of anti-austerity protests in the first half of October 2019. * Chile has experienced widespread public demonstrations since mid-October 2019 in which protestors are calling for greater economic and social equality. Among other regional challenges are high rates of crime and violence in several countries, including Mexico and the Central American Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. In some countries, human rights and environmental activists and journalists have been targeted. Although Cuba transitioned to a new president in 2018, the government continues to restrict freedoms of expression and other basic rights. Trump Adinsa Policy In its policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean, the Trump Administration has retained many of the same priorities and programs of past Administrations, but it has also diverged considerably in generally adopting a more confrontational approach. In 2018, the State Department set forth a framework for U.S. policy toward the region focused on three pillars for engagement-economic growth and prosperity, security, and democratic governance. The framework reflects continuity with long-standing U.S. policy priorities for the region, but it also appears at odds with the Administration's sometimes antagonistic actions and statements on immigration, trade, and foreign aid. The Administration's proposed foreign aid budgets for FY2018 and FY2019 would have cut assistance to the region by more than a third; the FY2020 proposed budget request would cut funding to the region by about 29%. Meanwhile, according to Gallup polls in 2018 and 2019, negative views of U.S. leadership in the region have increased markedly since the Trump Administration took office. On trade, in 2017, President Trump ordered U.S. withdrawal from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement that had been negotiated in 2015; the TPP would have increased U.S. economic linkages with three Latin American countries that were parties to the agreement-Chile, Mexico, and Peru. The President strongly criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada, repeatedly warned that the United States might withdraw from NAFTA, and initiated renegotiations in 2017. The three countries agreed in September 2018 to a new United States- Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which includes ncv N 1 10 LI

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most