ACE

Author: Hannah Jones

  • Introduction to the US Relationship with Uruguay and Paraguay

    Introduction to the US Relationship with Uruguay and Paraguay

    The two northernmost countries of the Southern Cone, Uruguay and Paraguay, are linked through both their geographies and their histories. The United States works closely with each country, especially in its efforts to combat drug trafficking across the Americas, and the two are frequent collaborators in establishing and advancing environmental protections.

    Republic of Paraguay

    Fact Sheet: 

    History of U.S.-Paraguay Relations

    The United States recognized Paraguay’s independence from Spain in 1852. In the years following the formation of this relationship, Paraguay experienced a series of coups, civil wars, and dictatorships. During the mid 19th-century, the country was also engaged in a series of border conflicts with its neighbours, in which the US military often attempted to intervene. These tensions culminated in the outbreak of the War of the Triple Alliance (1864-1870), a bloody interstate conflict between Paraguay and the alliance of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, which resulted in the complete destruction of Paraguay and the death of half of its people. Following the devastation of the war, the Paraguayan government transitioned to a republic. However, the country remained divided by inter-party conflict throughout the early 20th century. General Alfredo Stroessner took control of the Paraguayan government by force in 1954, and ruled as dictator for several decades before being overthrown in 1989. During this period, relations between Paraguay and the United States collapsed entirely, a consequence of international backlash against the many human rights abuses committed by the general’s government.

    Over the past two decades, Paraguay has slowly made the transition to democracy. The United States encouraged this change and has provided support to the new government. This new relationship has given the United States a new partner in the Southern Cone to cooperate with on international issues of migration, crime, corruption, and environmental conservation.

    U.S. Strategic Interests in Paraguay

    The United States is one of Paraguay’s largest sources of development aid and foreign direct investment. Of particular interest to the United States are issues of drug trafficking and money laundering, preservation of democratic norms within the country, and the conservation of Paraguay’s many natural resources. 

    Oriental Republic of Uruguay

    Fact Sheet

    • Population: 3.4 million
    • Capital: Montevideo
    • System of Governance: Presidential Republic
    • Chief of State and Head of Government: President Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou
    • Majority Language: Spanish
    • Majority Religions: Christianity (Roman Catholic, 47%), Nondenominational (23.2%), Atheist or Agnostic (17.2%)
    • GDP Per Capita: $21,561

    History of U.S.-Uruguay Relations

    The United States formally established diplomatic relations with Uruguay in 1867. The country was internally fractured by civil war less than a decade after it declared independence in 1830, with followers of Uruguay’s first and second presidents fighting over control of the government and the country’s political future. Conflict between these two factions, the Colorados and the Blancos, eventually boiled over the country’s borders, generating a multinational conflict between the countries of the Southern Cone known as the War of the Triple Alliance. Although the Colorados ended the war in power, tensions between the factions persisted. In 1905, a civilian government backed by popular mandate was established. The early 20th century saw progress on a number of social and political issues, including women’s rights and equitable distribution of power within government. Following the Great Depression, however, the country was once again engulfed in political turmoil leading to conflict and the government’s right-ward, authoritarian shift. Economic instability led to a six decade-long period of alternating constitutional reform and military control. A civilian government returned to power in 1985.

    Though the US never formally severed diplomatic ties with the country, relations were strained while Uruguay was under military control. For this reason, the US relationship with Uruguay is weaker than with neighboring countries like Argentina and Brazil. Once Uruguay returned to civilian-led democracy, the two countries began to strengthen their alliance.

    U.S. Strategic Interests in Uruguay

    A central focus of US-Uruguay relations is the United States’ support for Uruguay’s participation in and support for conflict resolution and peacekeeping efforts in Latin America and across the world. Uruguay has a strong reputation in both regional and international forums for acting as a reliable mediator and for consistently advocating peace, stability, and democracy. In an effort to support these endeavours, the United States provides assistance to the Uruguayan government and military and encourages Uruguay’s engagement in programs, particularly those of the United Nations, that work to these ends. 
    As with issues of political stability and peacekeeping, Uruguay takes an active role in international organizations’ efforts to combat international crime. The United States supports these efforts through direct assistance and has partnered with Uruguayan law enforcement agencies and officials to augment the international community’s capacity to undermine organized crime and trafficking organizations, particularly in Central America. The United States similarly provides assistance, in the form of training. to the institutions of the Uruguayan justice system in an effort to support the country’s commitment to reforming and improving the country’s criminal justice and correctional systems.

  • Introduction to U.S. Engagement with Argentina

    Introduction to U.S. Engagement with Argentina

    Fact Sheet 

    • Population: 45,864,941 (July 2021 est.)
    • Capital: Buenos Aires
    • System of Governance: Presidential Republic
    • Chief of State and Head of Government: President Alberto Ángel Fernández
    • Majority Language: Spanish
    • Majority Religions: Christianity (Roman Catholic, 92%; Protestant, 2%)
    • GDP Per Capita: $22,064 (2019 est. in 2010 U.S. dollars)

    History of Relationship Between the U.S. and Argentina

    The U.S. government officially recognized the Government of Buenos Ayres, what would become the Argentine Republic, in 1823, seven years after its declaration of independence from Spain. Though recognized by the United States and other foreign powers, this government struggled to establish itself as the legitimate government in the country, repeatedly facing challenges to its attempts to centralize power in Buenos Aires and efforts by its neighbors to assume control over the borderlands. During this period of intermittent conflict, power was consolidated in the office of the president and the military gained a position of prominence. The consequences of these trends would be borne out decades later.

    For much of its early history, the country was controlled by a democratically elected government. However, popular dissatisfaction with its inability to rectify the country’s economic crisis during the Great Depression, in addition to conservative and liberal frustration with the government’s neutrality during World War II, caused it to lose popularity and resulted in a number of exchanges of power over the course of the early 20th century. It was following this period of instability that, in 1943, the government was overthrown in a coup and Juan Perón ascended to power. Perón was a divisive leader, and his tenure preceded another period of political turmoil and instability leading to the Guerra Sucia (Dirty War). During this seven-year period, tens of thousands of Argentine citizens were summarily executed for suspected links to anti-government insurgent groups, a tragedy which would come to have lasting effects on the country. This was a tumultuous period for US relations. Members of the US government were divided over whether to support the Perón dictatorship in an effort to limit the spread of communism or recenter issues of human rights in U.S. foreign policy.

    In 1983, democracy was restored in Argentina and it has remained as a stable constitutional republic though the country faced a series of economic crises in subsequent years. These crises cemented economic relations between Argentina and the United States. Argentina’s economic recovery from a crisis in the 1990s occurred at the peak of neoliberalism’s popularity, and is often touted as a shining example of the potential success of Washington Consensus policies. Relations between the two countries remained largely concerned with issues of trade, lending, and monetary policy into the 20th century. Though U.S. strategic interests have shifted in recent years, the two remain close partners.

    U.S. Strategic Interests in Argentina

    The United States’ main strategic interests in Argentina and South America as a whole are the promotion of democracy and human rights, counterterrorism, rule of law, regional economic integration, resource and infrastructure development, and citizen security. In an effort to advance these interests, the United States has engaged Argentina in a number of bilateral and multilateral agreements and provides financial, advisory, and other forms of assistance in exchange for their cooperation.  

    In recent years, counterterrorism, both regional and international, has become increasingly important in U.S.-Argentine relations. The two countries worked closely in the development of the Western Hemisphere Counterterrorism Ministerial (WHCM) which has advocated for Latin American countries to follow the American lead on terrorist designations including Hezbollah in Lebanon. The United States also provides assistance to the Argentine military and law enforcement agencies, in the form of training and education programs, technical assistance, and financial support, in an effort to advance the country’s counterterrorism efforts.

    The United States has sought cooperation from the Argentine government on issues related to the transnational trafficking of illicit drugs. To this end, the U.S. State Department’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau has implemented a number of programs designed to encourage inter-agency cooperation between American and Argentine law enforcement. Among these programs are the 2016 Preventing and Combating Serious Crime Agreement, which sought to facilitate information sharing between law enforcement agencies in each country, and the 2017 bilateral working group on cybersecurity, which supported efforts to identify and root out illegal activities conducted virtually. 

  • Introduction to U.S. Engagement with Chile

    Introduction to U.S. Engagement with Chile

    Fact Sheet

    • Population: 18,307,925 (July 2021 est.)
    • Capital: Santiago; the national legislature is seated in Valparaíso
    • System of Governance: Presidential Republic
    • Chief of State and Head of Government: President Sebastián Piñera Echenique
    • Majority Language: Spanish
    • Majority Religion: Christianity (Roman Catholic, 66.7%; Protestant or Evangelical, 16.4%), Not Religious (11.5%)
    • GDP Per Capita: $24,226 (2019 est. in 2010 U.S. dollars)

    History of Relationship Between the U.S. and Chile

    The United States formally established diplomatic relations with Chile in 1824. Constant political infighting characterized early Chilean history. In 1830, a conservative majority took control of the government and maintained control for over thirty years. The latter half of the 19th century saw Chile’s slow liberalization, though the country would soon become the site of intercontinental conflict in the War of the Pacific when Chile faced off against the combined forces of Peru and Bolivia. The Chilean government turned down US support out of concern for US influence in the region. This decision to limit American influence in Chile stunted the development of relations between the two countries. 

    The Chilean grew dissatisfied with the oligarchical ruling class and became frustrated with the country’s faltering economy. Popular discontent led to the Radical Period of Chilean politics where the government was led by a coalition of leftist parties and politicians. Through the following decades, political power alternated between traditionalist and leftist coalitions. Both groups advocated for pro-worker and protectionist economic policies, which ultimately bred dissatisfaction among the country’s elites. The wealthy elite supported the 1973 military coup in an effort to reassert their power, and a brutal dictatorship was established under the leadership of Augusto Pinochet. This political transition at the height of the Cold War garnered the support of high-level officials within the U.S. government who sought to limit the spread of communism in the Western Hemisphere. Though American support  increased during this period, relations between the two countries remained strained.

    In 2000 Chile began the long process of reestablishing democracy. Though the country has since been rocked by natural disasters and popular protests, Chile has undertaken reforms to provide civilians with greater control over their government and reduce corruption.

    U.S. Strategic Interests in Chile

    Since Chile’s return to democracy in the late 20th-century, the United States has worked to maintain a close relationship. Issues of particular importance include environmental protection and research, trade, and cooperation on sustainable development projects in the Southern Cone and the Andean Region.

    A number of U.S. agencies maintain an active presence in Chile, including the Environmental Protection Agency, National Parks Service, and National Science Foundation. These organizations collaborate with their local counterparts in order to conduct research and develop best practices related to issues of conservation, agriculture, and climate change. They focus on enforcing environmental regulations and managing protected areas. In an effort to address Chile’s lack of enforcement capacity and support the country’s conservation efforts, the United States has encouraged the use of its own environmental technologies and provided technical expertise through the implementation of the U.S.-Chile Environmental Cooperation Agreement. Chile has also partnered with a number of U.S. states to advance research and advocacy for clean energy infrastructure and low-carbon economies. These programs are intended to leverage the resources and technologies developed in the private sector as well as research conducted by public universities in the states, allowing for less bureaucratized engagement between cutting edge conservation technologies and the governments which seek to employ them.

    The countries also collaborate to support sustainable development and anti-corruption initiatives across Latin America. The U.S.-Chile Trilateral Development Initiative aims to support sustainable development and encourage political stability and good governance. Chile has also worked with the United States in its peacekeeping efforts in Colombia.

  • Hannah Jones, Boston College

    Hannah Jones, Boston College

    Linkedin

    Hannah Jones (she/her) is from Kansas City and is currently an undergraduate student at Boston College studying Political Science and International Studies with a concentration in Cooperation and Conflict Studies. Her interest in foreign policy stems from her high school coursework on Cold War-era Cuban politics and the U.S.-Cuba relationship. Hannah has previously served as a research assistant studying insurgent movements in the Southern Cone and has conducted independent research concerning issues of anti-intellectualism within 21st-century populist movements and governments. Following graduation, she intends to pursue a master’s degree in foreign relations and, ultimately, serve as a member of the Foreign Service.