Latin America in Focus

The American continent is undoubtedly one of the main poles of this new geopolitical arrangement. Some people speak of a new tripolar order consisting of the US, Russia, and China, but the American continent remains the game board upon which many of the movements fight and make their moves in the global geopolitical game. The continent itself is divided into the American bloc and its hinterlands on the one hand, including the Caribbean, Central America where the US’ interests are also prevalent, and the countries of the south belonging to the regional “Pacific Alliance,” Chile Peru, Colombia, and Mexico. 

On the other hand, against this block there are such initiatives as the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR (and their economic integration, MERCOSUR, comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela and Bolivia), and ALBA (Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, etc.).

Some geopoliticians, avoiding the division between North America and South America, draw the line of geopolitical influence of American power at the top of the Amazon rainforest. From there, operations against Venezuela’s Maduro, and yesterday against Chavez, or the coup in Honduras, are interpreted as attempts by the US to regain control over the whole area, which affects other developments (the speculative oil price crash incited by Wall Street banks was not only directed against the Maduro government, but also against Russia and Iran).

Naturally, these destabilization operations also include, in addition to Venezuela, the Brazilian giant (a member of BRICS), which is currently immersed in the process of impeaching its president. Together with the political upheaval in Argentina, a new situation is unfolding in which a neoliberal offensive in three important South American nations is strengthening US power while undermining the political and economic processes which have over recent years aimed to establish a multipolar reality against US hegemony. 

Contrary to what many argue, this is no longer a confrontation between “progressive” governments and forces and “right-wing” ones, but a battle between “globalists” and “sovereigntists” and those contributing to multipolarity. Although it is not yet entirely inoperative, the classical division between “right” and “left” is becoming obsolete. 

Anyway, the fact is that the neoliberal offensive is seeking to return to the US what has always been regarded as its “backyard.” In Argentina, the liberal Macri nipped in the bud the possibility of integrating Argentina into BRICS, instead returning to the “protection of interests” and neoliberal recipes that have had adverse effects on the Argentinian people. 

In Venezuela, the collapse of oil prices by almost 70% has brought the country to a critical situation. The wear and tear of the government over the past years has pushed local oligarchies and the opposition into a parliamentary majority, thereby creating an emergency situation in which the opposition is seeking to revoke Maduro’s mandate, similar to what is happening in Brazil. 

In Brazil, the opposition has so far managed to take all the steps necessary to carry out a successful, or at least arguable presidential revocation process. It is here that the future is at stake, not just for the antagonistic blocs of South America, but also on the world stage. Indeed, the fall of Brazil to neoliberal networks would be a blow to BRICS, not to mention the sovereigntist structures of UNASUR/MERCOSUR. The “Pacific Alliance” and “Trans-Pacific Partnership” (TPP) would then have free roam. If Brazil falls, the hegemonic power of the US in Latin America would be consolidated, thus representing a geopolitical defeat of Russia, China, and the multipolar front.