Foreign Policy: Latin America

1. Foreign Policy:Latin America Presented by… Donovan, Amy, & Jacob

2. Democratic Socialism • In 2000 several south American countries elected socialist presidents. This places includedVenezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay,Bolivia, Chile, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and most recently Paraguay • Although policies vary they have agreed on refusing ALCA (Free Trade Area of the Americas)

3. Free Trade • Although the ALCA was abandoned in 2005 Free trade agreements weren’t abandoned • Regional economic intergration continued reaching a total of 10

4. The War on Drugs • Latin America has been a major focus point on illicit drug trafficking • The Foreign Relations Authorization Act requires the President to identify the major drug transit or major illicit drug-producing countries • The following countries were identified as major drug-producing areas: Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. Over half of these are Latin American countries. • Venezuela is one of the countries to be recognized for failure to adhere to their obligations as part of the international counternarcotics agreements • The U.S.-led “war on drugs” has not reduced the supply of drugs. Instead, it has strengthened authoritarian rule and created widespread corruption in the Andean countries and undermined their economies

5. Venezuelan relations/oil • Since Hugo Chávez was elected President of Venezuela, the long-standing close diplomatic relationship between Venezuela and the United States have progressively worsened due to his more socialistic ideologies, though this has had a smaller than expected effect on the oil trade; while the United States remained Venezuela’s most important trading partner for oil and other exports. • The U.S. during Bush’s presidency has called Chávez a "negative force" in the region, and has tried to gain support from Venezuela's neighbors in isolating Cháve. • Chávez's stance as an OPEC price hawk has raised the price of oil for the United States, as Venezuela pushed OPEC producers towards a higher price per barrel.

6. SICOFAA - Cooperation System of the American Air Forces • It s an apolitical voluntary international organization among the North and South American air forces. • SICOFAA's mission is to promote and strengthen the bonds of friendship prevalent in the Air Forces of the American Continent, members of the System, as well as to achieve the mutual support among them through their cooperation to act jointly when directed to do so by their respective governments. • Critical topics include air operations, human resources, education and training, search and rescue, disasters relief, telecommunications, aerospace medicine, weather, prevention of plane crashes, and scientific research.

7. Illegål Immigration • Refers to the act of foreign nationals violating immigration policies and law by immigrating to the US without proper consent of the government. • Is estimated to be down to 11 million, 1.2 million less than in 2007. • According to a Pew Hispanic Center report, 57% are from Mexico, 24% from other Latin American countries, 9% from Asia, 6% for Europe and Canada, and 4% of the rest of the world. • Immigrants are classified as illegal for one of three reasons: entering without authorization or inspection, staying beyond the authorized period after legal entry, or violating the terms of legal entry.

8. Sources • (http://www.fpif.org/fpifindex/latam/) • (http://www.fpa.org/newsletterinfo2499/newsletterinfo.htm) • (http://www.wesfryer.com/uslapolicy.html)