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Is a New Climate of Confrontation Between Russia and the United States Possible in Latin America?
Author(s) -
Sánchez Ramírez Pablo Telman
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
latin american policy
Language(s) - Spanish
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.195
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 2041-7373
pISSN - 2041-7365
DOI - 10.1111/j.2041-7373.2010.00017.x
Subject(s) - latin americans , political science , hegemony , politics , foreign policy , economy , political economy , sociology , law , economics
The Kremlin is moving closer to Latin America, not to establish an ideological or military competition with the United States, but a competition guided by considerations not new in Russian foreign policy, considerations that will prioritize pragmatism and mutual advantage. Russia attempts to increase its presence in Latin America through the signing of commercial, energy, and military agreements. Russia also advocates for the end of the unipolar world and considers that the hegemonic power of the United States is in decline. Moscow is taking advantage of this situation and establishing alliances in regions far away from its vital interests, such as in Latin America. The Russian military presence in Latin America is a precise response, as well as a direct message, to the government of the United States, which intends to deploy an antimissile shield in Eastern Europe, and to NATO, whose military bases are moving closer to the borders of the Russian Federation. The plan consists of increasing the Russian military, political, and economic presence in the zone so as to counteract the clout of the United States, liberating itself from isolation and increasing its international power and clout by using a balance of powers that openly benefits it. El Kremlin se ha acercado a América Latina no con el objetivo de establecer una competencia ideológica o militar con Estados Unidos, sino más bien para propiciar una competencia guiada por consideraciones que no son nuevas en la política exterior rusa: el pragmatismo y la ventaja mutua. Rusia intenta incrementar su presencia en América Latina por medio de la firma de acuerdos comerciales, energéticos y militares. Rusia aboga por el fin del mundo unipolar y considera que el poderío hegemónico de Estados Unidos está en decadencia. Por tal motivo, el gobierno ruso toma ventaja de esta situación y consolida alianzas en regiones lejanas a sus fronteras, como es el caso de América Latina. La presencia militar rusa en la región latinoamericana es precisamente una respuesta y un mensaje directo tanto al gobierno de Estados Unidos como a la OTAN, cuyas bases militares se continúan moviendo hacia las fronteras de la Federación Rusa. El plan consiste en incrementar la presencia rusa militar, política y económica en la zona para contrarrestar el peso de Estados Unidos, liberarse del aislamiento y, a su vez, aumentar su poderío internacional por medio de un balance de poderes que la beneficia abiertamente.