Biden’s Promising Policy towards Latin America

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In 2016, Donald Trump won in part due to his strong rhetoric against Latin American migrants as he pushed for a border wall to section Mexico off. Despite his divisive language, he established strong connections with the region’s most prosperous country, Brazil. His relationship with Jair Bolsonaro is unique as Bolsonaro mirrors Trump’s foreign policy and independence. In terms of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been cooperative with the Trump administration as Mexico agreed to shut down asylum-seekers.

For other Latin American countries, the fear of tariffs and sanctions that Trump touts is often the primary driver for them to fall in line. However, these rigid policies failed to disrupt the leftist dictatorships in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

Joe Biden is familiar with the Latin American region, taking on responsibility for the Americas and encouraging more engagement, contrasting starkly from the Trump administration’s actions. As a political figure that has supported immigration reform, a Biden presidency can see a resurgence in engagement with Latin America as a partner rather than as an oppressive force.

This form of engagement would most likely occur through an aid program designed to fight corruption and spur growth in Latin American economies. Biden’s plan would consist of $4 billion to combat illegal immigration from their root causes. The plan revitalizes the Obama administration’s anti-corruption focus and would be a stark shift from the Trump administration. On Venezuela, Biden can pursue a broader strategy of negotiating for free elections rather than solely rely on sanctions to cripple their economy. However, it will be difficult for Biden to restructure the United States’ relationship with Mexico as the region’s favorability with the U.S. has considerably declined as well as the complete reversal from the deterioration of a partnership between the two nations.

A commitment by a Biden presidency to Latin America can be a great economic boon for the region that is currently struggling with unprecedented levels of economic inequality. Rather than polarize Latin American allies, Biden can seek to revitalize corruption reducing measures to mobilize his defense of democracy and human rights.