Ten months after Barack Obama’s inauguration day, is there a shift in attitudes towards Latin America? Are pledges of a more united America real or only words? Are ten months enough time to start reviewing his work towards Latin America?
On February 10th 2007, an Afro-American Senator of Illinois named Barack Obama unexpectedly announced his candidacy for President of United States. This young Senator of 48 years old delivered a youthful, stimulating, austere, energetic speech, distanced from the conservative and severe discourse proposed by the Republican Party, especially George Bush.
Over his presidential campaign, Obama strengthened his discourse by adopting a slogan of unity for the Americas: “There is not a white, an Afro and a Spanish America, America is only one”, said the candidate.
Throughout the history, Latin America had fulfilled US requests-demands to satisfy the superpower. However, the US has not always been flexible with Latin American countries, which has seen the invasion of its borders, the usurpation of its natural resources (such as fruit, rubber, metal, gas and oil) through trade policies, as well as ousted presidents and imposed dictators in young democracies over and over again. Obama seemed to finish with these politics or at least, to reduce their intensity. He proposed a renewal.
Obama knows the necessity of a dramatic change in US foreign policies toward Latin America, “It’s time for a new alliance of the Americas. My policy will be guided by the principle of what is good to Latin America will be good for US”, he said.
Campaign Vows
Throughout his campaign, Obama pointed out his intentions to modify the US foreign policy toward Latin America. In his speeches, he stressed the necessity of getting closer and said that stability and prosperity of the region would be one of his priorities.
In the diplomatic field, he stressed the importance of rebuilding the ties that Bush Presidency had broken. Relations not only turned frosty in the political arena, but also created an anti-American feeling among the subcontinent population resulting from actions like the war against terrorism and Iraq.
In the economic field, Obama wants to reform the North American Free Trade Agreement to protect employment in the US. He will also continue buying oil from Venezuela, as well as he has imposed tariffs on US imports of Brazilian ethanol. Brazil is the world largest producer of this biofuel.
Despite the fact that the US embargo against Cuba is still delicate for Americans, Obama has promised to lift restrictions so that Americans can visit relatives and transfer money to their families in Cuba.
In regard to Colombia, Obama is still supporting programs to fight against narcoterrorism and the guerrilla and to avert drug trafficking and violent crimes in Mexico and Central America, by strengthening police forces in the Mexican border.
Although Obama has supported the building of the Mexico – US fence to mitigate the flow of illegal border crossings, he agrees to a migratory reform that could help illegal workers.
He also supports the debt cancellation for poor countries like Bolivia, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras and Paraguay.
Easier said than done
The truth is that since his inauguration day, Obama has been solving domestic problems that have arisen during his presidency or inherited from the Bush Administration.
Over the first 100 days he managed to reform the stark methods the Bush Government used to fight terrorism. The most controversial detention center in the world – the naval base at Guantanamo Bay – will be closed; the use of torture techniques on terrorist suspects was declared illegal, as well as secret prisons of the CIA.
In domestic terms, Obama achieved an important political victory: the House of Representatives support his project to reform the health care system in an attempt to provide health insurance for all Americans. After lengthy discussions, the House passed the health care bill with a narrow final vote of 220 – 215. “It has been an historic vote”, said Obama. Now the bill will have to go to the Senate to be debated.
He also signed a 787 million-dollar economic stimulus bill into law, which is designed to boost the ailing US economy by providing government funding and tax cuts for both individuals and businesses. In addition, a 3.55 trillion-dollar budget was approved for 2010 which includes spending on healthcare and climate change, he succeeded in the creation of public-private funds to absorb irretrievable mortgages and loans and the creation of a 75 million-dollar fund to help families restructure or refinance their mortgages so they can avoid foreclosure.
Barack Obama revamped the relationship between the United States and the Middle East. He announced a troop withdrawal schedule from Iraq that will put an end to US military operations by August 2010 and a complete withdrawal by the end of 2011.
He also sent more civilians to help Afghanistan and Iraq build government institutions and 1 billion-dollars in aid to develop the Pakistan-Afghan border where Taliban militants operate with impunity.
The Obama Administration stopped using the questioned phrase “war on terror” and also resumed Palestine-Israel talks in an attempt to achieve a solution to the long-lasting conflict.
Concerning energy and the environment, Barack Obama introduced a bill to Congress to slash CO2 emissions by 14% in 2010, compared to the 2005 levels. Additionally, he launched an energy plan to increase the production of alternative sources of energy, such as the sun, wind, and bio-fuels. He designed a program to increase electric power production from renewable sources, to 10% by 2012 and 25% by 2025. Furthermore, he demanded the auto industry to make significant advances in producing fuel-efficient cars and the government renewed the fleet by buying hybrid, fuel-efficient cars. This is extremely important as given the US economy’s dependency on hydrocarbons.
Finally, Obama appointed an emissary to attend the United Nations conference that is taking place in December to negotiate agreements in an attempt to tackle climate change. This conference seeks to replace the Kyoto Protocol that the US failed to support.
US and the coup
The Honduran Coup in June undoubtedly was the first test for the Obama Administration in Latin America.
The US President along with the Organization of American States (OAS, http://www.oas.org/en/default.asp) and the international community condemned the Coup and demanded the reinstitution of the ousted President. Obama affirms that “the coup is illegal”, and unless the situation is reversed “it will set a terrible precedent.”
The US sent its Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Thomas Shannon. “The US delegation was key to break Honduras deadlock”, said OAS Secretary, José Miguel Insulza.
The situation in Honduras is still unsolved: the ousted President is not back in power after the elections that Obama failed to recognize.
The Obama Administration has just begun, that is why we should be tolerant. Latin America has never been a top priority on the US agenda. It will take time for Barack Obama to solve issues on the front burner, so that he can then deal with those of true importance. Patience is something Latin Americans are used to, but at least Obama has the intention to reestablish ties and mend the relationship with Latin America.
In the 5th Summit of the Americas he said, “I am not here to discuss the past, I am here to think about the future,” he commented that he is “seeking an alliance between equals” with the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean, and added that “although the US has done much for peace and prosperity in the continent, sometimes we have also turned our back or imposed our conditions.”
It is important that Latin America strengthen their democratic institutions, solve the problem of corruption and start thinking as a cultural and political bloc in order to be an equal partner with the US. Latin America is the land of hope, and by coming together it may bring about great changes.
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