US-Latin American Relationships

The Obama administration is changing the U.S.’s relationship with Latin America. In particular, there is a desire to make progress with Ecuador. At least, this seems to be the initial thought of John Kerry, an experienced Democratic Senator and Hillary Clinton’s successor, who is now in charge of the U.S.’s international relations.

Kerry was once a presidential candidate, and for 29 years has known the international side of the Capitol as the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

It is obvious that in the U.S.’s foreign policy agenda, the Middle East and Iran are the world power’s priority, as well as is the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and arm-wrestling with great China. However, the millions of Latino votes that helped determine Obama’s presidential reelection have inspired a lot of interest.

There is no need to mention that Mexico is a priority. That is clear — Mexico shares a border with the U.S., is the U.S.’s primary source of immigrants and is a key player on the drug cartel map. Venezuela is also geopolitically undeniable.

Taking these factors into consideration, Kerry looks forward to making progress with countries such as Bolivia and Ecuador. But is U.S. diplomacy really convinced that there is a gap that needs to be resolved? The U.S. is Ecuador’s main trading partner and has taken in thousands of Ecuadorian immigrants. Beyond the presidential candidates’ political discourse, Hillary Clinton’s view and the new moment of the northern power, there is a need to rationalize a new, sovereign and respectful relationship.