The relationship between the United States and Latin America has been a hot topic for a long period of time. They are closely linked in political, economic, and social issues, leading to the influence on one side can affect the others. The article describes the relationship between the US and Latin America and the benefits that both regions will receive when twenty countries in Latin America are moving toward an agreement on forming a supranational Union. Aside from that, it also comes up with the question: “Should we either support the proposed Latinamérica Unida or get out of the way?”
Based on the New York Times article, the trade activities can be benefited from the preferential policies of the Union and it has a positive effect on the US and Latin American countries. For example, the trade boom in the late 19th and beginning of the 20th century is a turning point in the economy and politics of both regions. The US received many products from agriculture to mineral products from Latin America at a low cost. In return, the US supported Latin America by technology transferring. The trade boom also had a great contribution to the Latin American government budget by collecting tax then later funded for governing, police, and infrastructure. Nowadays, the trade action will be far more prosperous than before by forming a union and applying international trade agreements like NAFTA or USMCA.
Furthermore, the forming of a union will have a profound influence on internal as well as international immigration. The US has been known for the title “A place that dreams come true” which attracting immigration waves around the world, especially Latin American countries. We can easily see the relationship between immigration from the Southside and the US food and beverage industry since 1930. At first, Mexican food was hardly founded on the street in the US, taking New York City as an example. The boom of Mexican food or immigration started in 1970 and meet its peak in the 1990s. Nowadays, you can easily find Mexican food in a food truck, pushcart in every corner of the city with a low-price and delicious taste. With the new union, the economy of Latin America will improve which then make the journey to the United States look less and less worthwhile.
So, what should the United States react to the proposed Latinamérica Unida? In the past, Latin America’s politics were strongly affected by the US government and their alliance. For example, at the beginning of the 20th century, the United Fruit Company was a typical example of neo-colonialism which using economics to influence a country instead of direct military control. The central American countries gave them access to the port, railroad, and received money and arms in return. Then, the election in 1964, the assassination against generals René Schneider, and even the 1973 Chilean coup are involved directly to indirectly from the US government. The United States has already meddled far too many times in the politics of the region, toppling or propping up regimes in nearly every country. Now, it is time for the US to take a step back and allow Latin Americans to decide what kind of government they want.
Overall, the forming of a Union will have more benefit than harm for the Latin American countries itself and their neighbor country. As a close friend to Latin America, the US government should conclude with an answer: “Do nothing”
Cite:
-https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/17/opinion/future-united-latin-america.html?searchResultPosition=2
– Wood, James A., and Anna Rose Alexander. Problems in Modern Latin American History: Sources and Interpretations. 5th ed. Rowman & Littlefield, 2019. ProQuest Ebook Central.
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