For practical purposes, the geopolitical concerns of the United States do not pass, for now, through the American continent.
Latin America is facing this wave of populism and is not free from dictatorial regimes. However, they are not currently priority issues on the foreign agenda of the government in Washington, DC.
On the contrary, the United States needs allies to face the two international flanks that it keeps open and that are a priority to maintain its country’s hegemony.
On the one hand, Russia and the real military threat that it implies for Europe and with it for the Americans via the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. And, on the other hand, China and the trade threat it represents to the world’s leading economy.
So a little flexibility in the White House with neighbors on the mainland may have some internal political cost, but greater geopolitical benefits.
Sure, here in Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has put on quite a show around the dictators’ presence at next month’s Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California.
They are calculations that serve to satisfy those who maintain an outdated vision of a generation that was formed by flattering the Cuban Revolution and that today, from power, seeks to pay those favors for those youthful illusions.
The reality is that in the end López Obrador could give the impression of having gotten away with it and that at least Cuba and Venezuela receive the famous invitations for their dictators to set foot on US soil and attend the Summit of the Americas.
Venezuela has Nicolás Maduro, but it also has a lot of oil in the subsoil, which is undoubtedly of great use to the United States and its allies at a time when Russia is pressuring its enemies with energy sources. The governments of Joe Biden and Maduro have already shown closeness to do joint oil deals.
And Cuba has the same thing that Finland and Sweden have, a border with the enemy. It is not unreasonable to think that, just as the United States approaches Russia, via NATO, through these two Nordic nations, Vladimir Putin wants to have a greater presence just 90 miles from Florida.
Nicaragua also has a dictator, a repressor, in the figure of Daniel Ortega. But that small Central American country does not offer any strategic position, so that satrap could be left out of the Summit.
And if the United States decides that it is in its best interest to care for its relationship with those countries, even if they are governed by dictators, it will want to maintain a good relationship with the democratic but populist government of Mexico even more.
So for the government of Joe Biden these allies in the American neighborhood, in these times of reissue of the Cold War, are well worth a Summit of the Americas, just as Cuba was worth that recently announced easing of sanctions and Venezuela is useful for the oil businesses.
Of course, giving this political victory to López Obrador will have a price and surely the United States will want in exchange for that integrationist medal for the Mexican regime, a firmer and more forceful position against the Russian invader Vladimir Putin.
Televisa News Anchor
The great Depression
Degree in Communication Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, with a specialty in finance from the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico and a master’s degree in Journalism from the Anahuac University.
His professional career has been dedicated to different media. He is currently a columnist for the newspaper El Economista and news anchor on Televisa. He is the owner of the 2 pm news space on Foro TV.
He is a specialist in economic-financial issues with more than 25 years of experience as a commentator and host on radio and television. He has been part of companies such as Radio Programas de México, where he participated in VIP business radio. He was also part of the management and talent team of Radio Formula.