The Cold War Has Ended

The foreign policy of Mujica’s government has seemingly not realized that the Cold War has ended. During the days of the Cold War, between 1947 and 1991, the competition between the two superpowers marked the international picture: The Soviet Union on one side and the United States on the other tried to extend their influences, while at the same time to oppose each other’s rival dominances in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. When the two superpowers put this strategy into action on our continent, Cuba was the Soviet Union’s main player, and the U.S. itself influenced several countries. Fidel Castro tried to turn the Andes into the Sierra Maestra of the continent, a symbolic battleground where revolution could triumph. This showed his desire for revolution around the globe. In contrast, Washington managed to prevent its Russian rival from conquering its natural zone of influence in the hemisphere.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the geostrategic picture in Latin America changed. The 1990s saw a democratization boom in different parts of the world. With the Communist threat in its natural zone of influence gone, the U.S. offered a path toward trade integration for the hemisphere. It achieved its objective, first with the agreement with Mexico and Canada, then with the majority of Central America, and finally, some countries in South America.

Thus, the continent’s agenda proceeded to revolve around issues of economic growth and institutional development. However, there was a left wing on the continent that continued to stick with the revolutionary and anti-American rhetoric. It lived on into this century through Chavez’s figure and the Cuban influence, and continued expressing anti-imperialist opinions as in Cold War times.

Mujica’s foreign policy functions within this framework of ideas. It bows down to the Cuban Communist dictatorship, as if we were right in the middle of the Cold War, as if Uruguay had to align with the Russians, and Cuba were a relevant factor of international power. It also systematically hushes all the violations on individual freedoms of governments in those countries on the continent that are aligned in the Americanist unity project, which excludes Canada and the United States. It does not defend our national interests if these go against those of Buenos Aires or Brasilia, or if they fly in the face of the dream of a great and socialist homeland.

Outside of South America, this foreign policy by Mujica and Almagro believes that being left-wing means opposing America’s influence on the world. Therefore, it welcomed Iran’s prominence in South America a few years ago. Therefore, it is also betting on investments from China and trade with it. It also believes that Uruguay’s role in the world is to work together with international and regional powers that compete with the United States, as if we were still living in the Cold War, and the country were aligned with the Soviet Union.

Unfortunately for the stale, internationalist policy of this government, the world has changed. To America, Latin America’s role in particular is completely different than it was in the second half of the 20th century. The countries in the hemisphere that wish to subscribe to its rationale of growth and development count on its support and move forward in these areas: For example, there has been a rise in countries that want to join the Pacific Alliance, and all of them have free trade agreements with Washington. But the countries that have not joined that movement do not worry America. If Uruguay wants to be a major figurehead from its geographically advantageous position, then it is welcome to do so. On the other hand, if it prefers to remain hidden behind the big American ally in the region, Brazil, then good luck to it. In that scenario, Washington would not bother with protecting its influence in every corner of South America as a priority, like it did in Cold War times. Everybody would be left to their own destiny.

Clearly, a foreign policy that defends national interest requires understanding what the world we are living in is like. Uruguay will win regional influence whenever it realizes that its strategic position enables it to make links with far-away and powerful ally countries with the objective of growing economically and developing institutionally. It must stop playing at being the leading figurehead of the great, socialist and anti-imperialist homeland.