The foreign policy of the United States has been the cornerstone of international politics for decades. It has influenced events and triggered changes in the world order. In this evolution of their foreign policy, the Monroe doctrine stands out. It was the catalyst for American isolationism from the 19th century to the early 20th and is dubbed as being responsible for catapulting the US’s rise as a major industrial power.  

The principles of the Monroe doctrine are simple and are named after the 5th President, James Monroe. It states that America is for the Americas, and the continent is to be kept free from Eastern colonization. It was aimed then at Europe, but now is increasingly being cited concerning a further eastward adversary, China. 

The policy of the US towards Latin America

The policy of the US towards the American continent has been guided by several factors. Most prominent amongst them are immigration, drug problems, and the promotion and maintenance of democratic systems in these countries. However, the US has not shied away from using undemocratic means to meet undemocratic ends. Orchestration of the coup in Chile by the Nixon administration, training Contras in Nicaragua to overthrow the established government, or the roller coaster of ties with Cuba are prime examples of such behaviour. This was done ostensibly to promote peace and security but any brief reading would be enough to determine that it was all but a veneer to secure their economic and political interests.

Although past events still dictate to this day social and political tensions in these countries, current events do not paint a pretty picture either. Unrest and widespread protests in Colombia, the horrible state of the economy in Venezuela, the unstable political situation in El Salvador, present a dire scenario. This deteriorating situation provides a fertile ground for competing powers to have a dog in the fight. 

Unrest in the neighbourhood is not conducive, nor is desirable for a stable foreign policy. Back when Secretary of State John Kerry stated that the era of the Monroe doctrine was over, it was viewed as a genuine outreach by the US to build partnerships that were real. President Obama’s resumption of ties with Cuba was also seen as an extension of an Olive Branch. But when President Trump came to power, the hostilities were ramped up again, and NSA John Bolton made it a point to state that the Monroe doctrine was very much in existence. A report by WOLA, an organisation for advocacy for human rights in Americas states that some strict measures have been relaxed by the Biden Administration. However, the immigrant crisis in Del Rio, Texas only served to expose the high handedness of immigration officials and the Biden Administration. The report states that the administration airlifted 12,400 Haitians by expelling them, the highest in history. 

This tip-toeing has created uncertainty and consolidated the claim that LATAM is a backyard of the US. A Pew research survey during the Trump presidency in South America gave a lower favourable rating for the US. 

US's history with Latin America has had a roller coaster ride

China’s impact on Central and Latin America cannot be underestimated. The recent history could be traced to the 2000s when the ‘pink tide’ overtook many of the countries in the region. The spread of leftist governments made the Chinese look west, and challenge American dominance in the region.  China has made inroads into the region by focusing on trade and investment. The belt and road initiative, the brainchild of Xi Jinping, explicitly includes Latin America as an important area for execution. 

In 2019, China invested about $12.8 billion in Latin America, signifying a jump of 16.5% from 2018. Reports suggest that China is willing to invest in projects that other institutions/countries are not ready to invest in. An example may be cited of the Belgrano Cargas rail expansion network in Argentina. Countries where infrastructure is low and so is the prospect for economic growth, jump at the opportunity to receive loans from the Chinese, and rightly so. The US has had a long history of intervening in the internal affairs of these countries as mentioned above, which China, at least till now, does not seem keen to get into.  

Chinese investments are becoming hard to resist for LATAM countries

As the international politics of the 21st century unfolds, it is undoubtedly going to be influenced by a Sino-US rivalry, and similarly, the American continent seems to be an important theatre for this confrontation. Some interesting 

The "backyard" label for Latin America is creating unrest and uncertainty

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