U.S.-Latin American Relations under the Carter Administration
Abstract
While other regions of the world dominated the attention of the American public and the time of the Carter Administration, historic changes occurred in Latin America. In October 1979 the new Panama Canal Treaties went into effect and in July 1979 the 42-year Somoza dynasty in Nicaragua fell to the Sandinistas. Just as important, though less dramatic and volatile, was Mexico's rise to the stature of a world 'oil power.' Bringing to an end the long and controversial process of ratifying the Panama treaties was a significant accomplishment for the Carter Administration. The treaties also came to represent a milestone in U.S.-Latin American relations. However, this euphoria of accomplishment was overcome by a series of policy challenges: Mexican intransigence in negotiating bilateral issues, human rights confrontations with Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Guatemala, constitutional crises in the Dominican Republic and Bolivia, the Soviet military presence in Cuba and Cuban expansionism in the Caribbean Basin, the fall of Somoza, and the civil war in El Salvador. With respect to Mexico there is almost universal agreement, among experts and laymen alike, that Mexican oil and gas reserves are significant for U.S. interests and that the Carter Adminisitration performance in this area left much to be desired.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA095398
Entities
People
- Arturo Gandara
- Cesar Sereseres
Organizations
- RAND Corporation