Latin America's Rising Force

Latin America is on the rise, whether other regions of the world are willing to admit it or not. With America's massive debts to China and the EU's inability to foster proper economic or military reactions in the modern day only the Deep South remains a viable player in both the expansion of armed forces capabilities of the free world. So while Barack Obama's state visit to foster economic cooperation may have appeared to be a simple gesture of diplomacy between the dominant world power leader and the historically subjugated Latin Americans, it really shows a turning of tables as far as the rule of international leadership extends.

(Photo credit goes to MercoPress.com)

From the outset one fact must remain clear: America is no longer entirely superior to its southern neighbors. With the wreckage of the economy in recent years the U.S. has been left in a humbled position, and the precarious debt which it holds with China only seems to suggest that this trend will continue. At the same time countries like Brazil and Chile have begun picking up market power, gaining ground without the same critical debt levels of the north and reined in by no foreseeable force from abroad. Even though the communists once controlled much of the region recent developments such as the collapse of both right and left wing governments has led to a string of mixed economies that so far seem to be succeeding.

In the department of armed forces, Latin America is also advancing particularly firmly, and this is best seen once more in Brazil Recent stats put their military size at just over 370,000 active with another 1.3 million in reserve, the once quiet nation is very ready to seize up its own role in the world should it come to its doorstep. In comparison to the rest of the world, these numbers are entirely impressive given the country's rather dormant activity over the past decade, and other surrounding armies may give the area the collective strength its needs to achieve greater influence in the world.

Markets also give way to the potential of a massive upswing in Latin America's influence and viability on the international stage. For one, auto markets have surged by 10% in each of the past 3-years, and the movement of American firms to the southern nations gives the zone a likelihood to only grow more powerful as its affairs develop into a stronger pro-market position.

There is no doubt that the future is still to be decided, yet American influence seems to be ever-waning, and the recent administrations of George W. Bush--and more pointedly, Barack Obama, do nothing to dissuade this approaching ultimatum. The endurance of the U.S. remains uncertain, but by all means Latin America should no longer expect to be a minor force in the near future.



Michael Veramendi

National Alliance Vice President for Foreign Issues