WASHINGTON-Relationships between the United States and the Andean countries remain positive even as significant changes in regional dynamics, economic development and political transitions have significantly transformed the region, top U.S. envoys to Andean countries said Tuesday.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Inter-American Dialogue, the diplomats discussed a wide range of issues that shape regional policy, including the United States’ relationship with current administrations and the emerging power of China and Brazil.
The U.S. ambassador to Colombia highlighted the unifying effects of Brazil’s growing influence in the region. “Brazil’s changing role is very positive engagement throughout Latin America. It’s not just a question of expanding economic ties, it’s working with other Latin American countries through regional groupings,” said Michael McKinley. “I think the benefits have been there to see over the last two to three years in improving diplomatic relations.”
John Creamer, the chargé d’Affaires in Bolivia, echoed the sentiment that Brazil has positively affected its neighbors. “In Bolivia, they are a major player in the energy sector… and in general, Bolivia is benefitting from Brazil’s interest in physical integration. BNDES is playing a major role in the lending for infrastructure and highway construction. I would expect that trend would continue and deepen in the future.”
Despite some significant differences in policy and the increasing influence of China in the region (Heather Hodges, Washington’s ambassador to Quito, pointed out that China has offered $4.9 billion in assistance to Ecuador), both Hodges and the chargé d’affaires in Venezuela, John Caulfield, cited results from a recent Latinobarómetro report as evidence that the United States is still viewed favorably in the region.
With regard to the recent release of classified cables by WikiLeaks, the diplomats reiterated the State Department’s position that the leaks will not hurt U.S. diplomacy. “The damage done by the leaks was significant,” said McKinley. “What’s important is that where we have robust relations, we are able to deal with the fallout quickly and move on and maintain relations on the basis of mutual interests.”
Among the positive steps, several of the U.S. diplomats acknowledged challenges to the working relationships between the United States and Andean countries. Despite differences in policy, Creamer said that “the key thing is that the Bolivian government has remained at the table” and has been willing to work toward common ends where possible. McKinley refused to “speculate” about the passage of the free trade agreement with Colombia but said “the fact that it was mentioned in the state of the union was significant indeed.”
On the other hand, Venezuela and the United States are at an impasse with regard to the absence of ambassadors following Chávez’s decision to reject the U.S. nominee for the post, Larry Palmer, according to Caulfield. “We are at a stalemate,” he said.
