President Obama’s Speech

President Barack Obama’s visit to Chile could serve as the starting point for a renewal of the relationship between the United States and Latin America, within the framework of new realities, through alliances of equality and shared responsibility, and based on a foundation of mutual respect, interests and common values. Within this context, Obama singled out Chile as an example of progress and chose to give his speech, directed at all of Latin America, in the country’s capital of Santiago.

President Obama has demonstrated enthusiasm and a vision for a future with positive changes in Latin America, in which democracy, peace, sustained growth and autonomy prevail, as does the interest in establishing more balanced ties with the United States in the country’s efforts to alleviate Latin America’s shortcomings and take advantage of regional potential for success.

In the face of regression of the democratic system and the stagnation of some countries in Central and South America, President Obama recognized Chile and its small towns for their peaceful restoration of democracy and for their institutional, social and economic progress, in the framework of shared values in the sphere of political and economic liberties.

Something similar happened in 2009, when Obama communicated his vision for Africa through a speech given in Ghana, an African nation exhibiting advances in political liberties and a high growth rate.

The selection of our capital to send his regional message is significant because it takes on the reality that, without any evident harm having been caused by Brazil and the United States’ relationship with its neighbor, Mexico, Latin America is made up of multiple other Spanish-speaking countries of relatively smaller sizes, characterized by very different circumstances, that also aspire to establish a real and efficient dialogue with United States authorities to cooperate in the battles against drug trafficking, terrorism and transnational organized crime. These countries also seek to work with the United States in economic development in order to eradicate extreme poverty and reduce inequality. Other goals include the reform of immigration law, the creation of new clean energy jobs, and the strengthening of public institutions and the rights of Latin American citizens.

Obama is aware that words alone are not enough. He expressed this belief in Cairo with his speech on “a new beginning in U.S. relations with the Muslim world.” We will have to wait to evaluate how the State Department and the other United Sates agencies will handle their dealings with Latin America. Items that need to be examined include the following: the questions that need to be asked to realize our common interests; the support that lends itself to shared aspirations and undertakings; a review of immigration policies and combating drug trafficking; the respect that comes with making autonomous decisions and the presence of sovereign nations within the region; the necessity that agreements to act alongside Brazil do not exclude those countries that also need to catch up with other nations in the hemisphere; and the fulfillment of the promise of equal and balanced relations with the United States.

These are open-ended issues, whose solutions will be decisive for the next phase of relations between the United States and Latin America. Obama’s speech in Santiago and his declaration of alliance with President Piñera will effectively be a milestone for the beginning of a distinct new chapter.