Uruguay’s Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin participated in one of the most engrossing episodes of “Talk to Al Jazeera.” In office, he quickly took on some of the most challenging issues confronting Latin America. The conversation included U.S. military interventions, the crisis in Venezuela, migration issues, and China’s growing role in the region.
Yet during the interview, Lubetkin raised the alarm on the recent escalatory U.S. strikes and their regional implications for war and instability. He warned that Washington’s reawakened sphere-of-influence doctrine—based on a century-and-a-half-old policies from the Monroe Doctrine to the Taylor Doctrine—has major implications for Latin American nations. This tack has the effect of making the U.S. the hegemon of the hemisphere, encouraging more competition and conflict than cooperation.
Lubetkin underscored this particularly in the case of the crisis in Venezuela, stressing how U.S. policy has worsened the state of affairs. As his first example, he mentioned how these actions increase the burden on European and other neighbors. These countries have been hard pressed to deal with an unprecedented wave of migrants looking to escape the chaos.
The theme of responding to migration was one of the major themes that Lubetkin spoke about. He had an understanding of the mammoth challenges that regional nations confront. Their task is daunting, as they strive to absorb massive waves of those escaping violence and instability. He argued for a big-picture approach. This new approach needs to address the root causes of migration and not just focus on border enforcement.
In discussing China’s growing footprint in Latin America, Lubetkin recognized that Beijing’s investments and partnerships could reshape the economic landscape. He claimed that China’s part provides stimulating prospects for Latin America. He cautioned we need to tread lightly to make sure these countries don’t lose their independence and succumb to overreliance on outside powers.
Lubetkin thought about the problem. He asked if there was still room for diplomacy to stop further escalation with the specter of great power politics returning to the region. He called instead for a measured response that promotes communication and collaboration between countries, instead of taking an aggressive stance.
Critics of U.S. actions in Latin America have raised alarms about potential legal violations and the broader implications for regional stability. Washington is already increasing its maritime presence in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Given more incendiary rhetoric from both sides, this move raises terrifying prospects for more civil unrest or warfare in the region.
