Fifth Summit of the Americas 2009

Posted: April 10th, 2009 | Author: faelo1 | Filed under: política | Tags: , , , | No Comments »

“When George Bush was elected, he held out the promise that this would change. He raised the hopes of the region that our engagement would be sustained instead of piecemeal. He called Mexico our most important bilateral relationship, and pledged to make Latin America a “fundamental commitment” of his presidency. It seemed that a new 21st century era had dawned.”

Obama Latin America speech in Miami

May 23, 2008

When George W. Bush ended his period in the presidency of The United States he was not able to show great results about Latin American relationship. During his presidency there were some advances such as the signature of Free Commerce Treatment with Chile, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and República Dominicana; The support to Colombia to fight against the guerrillas, and nothing more.

In contrast, the region suffered many problems such as the influence of the Venezuelan President Mr. Hugo Chavez in some Latin American countries; the growing of Mexican drug traffic cartels; the building of a wall on the boundary between The United States and Mexico, etc. In all these problems the performance of The United States government has been deficient.

Now, Barack Obama represents the hope to change the attitude of The United States towards Latin American countries. The Hispanic people are more and more important in The United States because they can decide a presidential election with their votes. Moreover, the threatening of terrorist groups has provoked worrying about the use of Latin American countries like a platform to launch attacks against The United States.

Next April 17th Trinidad and Tobago will be the venue of the Summit of The Americas in which most of the American presidents will be present. Obviously, the attention will be fixed on United States president. Everybody is expecting his position about the current economical situation, whether United States is going to help Latin American countries, or whether United States is going to raise barriers to the importations from Latin America. In addition, the political situation will be a very important issue because of the influence of the populist Venezuelan leader Mr. Hugo Chavez in other countries, and how United States will face this situation.

The relationship between Latin America and United States has never been a relationship based on the respect to each other but a relationship in which United States has always imposed his point of view. So, the Barack Obama’s challenge will be find out how to change this historical situation and strengthen the trust each other. In times in which the occidental world faces the threaten of terrorist groups from Islamic world, and the power of China, and India, Latin American countries could cooperate to keep the occidental civilization alive. But, first of all, United States should integrate Latin American Countries by giving them not only help to fight against the poverty and drugs but also to treat them as a true partner.

As well as millions of Americans voters put his trust in Obama, Latin American countries hope Obama to break the paradigm of this relationship, inaugurating a new era of cooperation and good relations.

Rdevia