U.S. Policy in Latin America

Abstract

IN any analysis of United States policy in Latin America, first question which should be considered is: What priority is attached to Latin America in whole spectrum of our foreign-policy considerations? Once relative importance or unimportance of hemispheric problems is established, one can then move on to consider question of basic U.S. policy in Latin America. Having delineated fundamental lines of policy, one can consider finally effective means of implement ing it. On these three questions I shall focus my discussion. On numerous occasions President Kennedy indicated priority he placed on Latin America in total spectrum of foreign-policy considerations by describing it as the most criti cal area in world. But two decades of constant preoccupa tion with Europe and Asia have left an imbalance in our global commitments that has not yet been wholly rectified. Although United States must continue to be concerned with develop ments in many parts of world, it is no longer either necessary or possible for United States to become deeply involved in every area of world and to undertake massive political, military and economic commitments that such involvement en tails. The break-up of bipolar world of postwar era and emergence of independent centers of power in non-Com munist world should in decade ahead allow United States greater freedom to concentrate its resources in areas of primary concern to our national interest. Europe remains of crucial importance in our foreign policy considerations and will retain this status for foreseeable future. But while internal political, social and economic patterns of Europe are well determined by now, this is not case with Latin America. The future structure of society and external policy of Latin nations remain unanswered ques tions. Marxism as a guide to social development is a spent force in most European countries, but it remains a lively alternative in Latin America today. The example of Cuba suggests both immediacy of Marxist threat to U.S. interests and nature of problems which we face when Marxism is accepted as a guide to development of a Latin American society.