In the world of diplomacy, it is known that when a tour of the US Secretary of State is defined -the main figure in the execution of the diplomacy of that country- behind it, there is a strategy aimed at obtaining precise objectives.
With this in mind, it is not by chance that Antony Blinken, current Secretary of State in Joe Biden’s administration, has decided to visit three presidents at the head of progressive and leftist governments in Latin America.
Thus, in the last two weeks, in the offices of the State Department in Washington, the official’s trip to Colombia, Chile, and Peru, whose governments are headed by Gustavo Petro, Gabriel Boric, and Pedro Castillo, respectively, was worked on.
The planning includes protocol considerations, public statements, formal plans, good intentions, and reaffirmations of maintaining friendly and constructive ties.
But diplomats and political figures (at least those who do not mind these episodes) know that the US Government always aspires to achieve functional objectives for its strategy, in this case, in the region.
Thus, a tactical objective in this journey would be to safeguard relations with progressive and leftist administrations, not conservative ones, which are tolerable and with which it is considered in Washington that a political, commercial, and diplomatic link is viable.
On this path, before being with Boric, the head of US diplomacy was with Petro, and later he will be with Castillo.
In this logic, the Biden Administration accentuates the differentiation compared to other governments and presidents, notoriously in the cases of Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba, Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua.
It is the dividing line established by the United States of those who respect or do not respect human rights, are or are not democratic, and are or are not tolerable.
Another point that would be considered in these visits of Blinken is the interest in strengthening trade ties and in other areas, such as environment and energy, to get in the way of progress in China’s relations with the region.
It is not lost on the State Department that the Asian country is now Chile’s leading partner in terms of trade. And on the rise.
The State Department’s objective is to lend a floor to a questioned Organization of American States (OAS).
For this, it would like to count on the action of a country like Chile, especially considering the role played in that organization by the current Foreign Minister Urrejola, in charge, among other things, of the design of accusations and pressures on Nicaragua, a factor present in US diplomacy.
In fact, on this trip, Antony Blinken will participate in the OAS General Assembly, where he will endorse US foreign policy towards the continent.
It should not be overlooked that the United States is also very interested in Latin American governments accepting and supporting its thesis and measures on the migration issue, which includes, among other things, protecting the borders and territories of the power.
An issue of great current interest for US diplomacy is the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. And in the region, it aims to strengthen its positions against the Russians and the approval of the Ukrainian government.
From the Twitter statements and communiqués of President Boric and the Chilean Foreign Ministry, there would be a coincidence between the White House and La Moneda.
Blinken could reinforce those positions on this trip and even thank the Chilean government for the position assumed.
“OUR SHARED PRIORITIES”
According to a statement from the State Department, Antony Blinken, on his tour of Colombia, Chile, and Peru, will focus “on our shared priorities of supporting strong democratic governments and respect for human rights in the Western Hemisphere, responding to the climate crisis, supporting regional efforts to address irregular migration, and implementing a comprehensive approach to counter drug trafficking and address its consequences for health, security and the environment.”
The text specified that in the case of Chile, it will “reaffirm US support for democratic governance, bilateral trade and investment opportunities, regional security and human rights, regional migration management and climate change mitigation.”
The Secretary will visit Chile’s National Electric Coordinator, where U.S.-owned companies help advance our shared goal of moving toward greater use of renewable energy.
He will also meet with students who participated in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative, a U.S.-sponsored program, to discuss how their innovations promote economic growth and positive change in their communities.
It was also noted in the press release that during the Secretary of State’s tour, issues such as “implementing the commitments made at the Ninth Summit of the Americas and reaffirming the important role of the OAS in promoting democracy, human rights, sustainable development, and security cooperation in the Western Hemisphere, consistent with the principles enshrined in the OAS Charter and the 2001 Inter-American Democratic Charter” will be addressed.
In this context, it could be expected that in the dialogues with the Chilean president, the Chancellor, and other Chilean authorities, Antony Blinken will insist on the need to support the OAS, to implement agreements of the Summit of the Americas (hegemonized by the White House with the exclusion of several countries) and to promote criticism of countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua based on letters that mark foreign policy in the US line.
When there is talk of democratic governance or the defense of human rights in the region, the tacit aim is to throw darts at Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. The US government is aware of the Chilean president’s statements regarding these countries, especially Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Of course, contrasts or nuances can be found. In an article published by the Colombian media Semana, it was pointed out that “we must not forget the international political context in which President Boric has moved in recent months:
First, at the Summit of the Americas held in Los Angeles last June, where he questioned the United States for the exclusion of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua from this event and the request he made to eliminate the ‘unjust and unacceptable’ blockade of Cuba by the United States”.
The newspaper pointed out that “no less important was his speech at the UN General Assembly, where he expressed his support for the Palestinians, calling to “neutralize” the permanent human rights violations against the Palestinian people.
What seemed not to be in doubt and was commented on in diplomatic circles is that with this visit of the Secretary of State, the relations of the Chilean government with the White House will be strengthened.
With information from El Siglo