THE U.S. IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
Submitted by christian on Sat, 04/11/2015 - 14:14
- Venezuela: President Nicolas Maduro has accused the US of meddling in the country's growing economic troubles and plotting to remove him. The countries have expelled each other's diplomatic staff repeatedly, and have not exchanged ambassadors in almost six years. In March, US sanctioned Venezuelan officials it accused of human rights violations and corruption following mass protests in the country last year. Mr Maduro harshly criticised the sanctions and hailed the officials as heroes against imperialism.
- Ecuador: The US ambassador to Ecuador was kicked out of the country over a Wikileaks cable in 2011 in which she discussed corruption in the Ecuadorian national police. But just over a year later, another US ambassador had returned to Quito. In 2013, Ecuador backed out of a preferential trade pact, saying the US was using it as blackmail to prevent them from considering asylum to NSA leaker Edward Snowden. The country has also expelled US drug and aid officials.
- Argentina: An already tense relationship has been further strained as Argentina battles creditors in the US courts. Last year Argentina defaulted on part of its debts owned by US hedge funds which purchased bonds cheaply in 2001 and are demanding a full pay out. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has called the debtors "vultures" and has criticised the US government for its hands-off position in the dispute.
- Cuba: In a surprise and significant shift in December, Mr Obama announced the US would re-establish formal diplomatic ties with Cuba - ones of its closest neighbours and oldest Cold War foes. Mr Obama has loosened certain restrictions and talks between the two countries to open embassies are ongoing. Cuba's inclusion on the US state-sponsor of terrorism list is a sticking point, as well as the embargo.
- Brazil: Brazil's importance in South America and the size of its economy means the US has sought the country out for increased defence and economic ties. But the relationship was ruptured after reports of National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance in Brazil, including the personal data of President Dilma Rousseff and state-owned oil firm Petrobras. But Ms Rousseff appears to have backed off somewhat after a scathing speech at the UN against US spying, and said in 2014 that the Obama administration was taking unspecified "steps" over Brazil's concerns.
- Mexico: Mexico was the US's third largest trading partner in 2014 and more than $20m (£13.6m) in remittances are directed back to Mexico each year from families working in the US. Mexico wants the US to reform its immigration laws, which will impact on millions of Mexicans living in the US, and the US has put some pressure - critics say not enough - on Mexico to combat organised crime and violence.
- Colombia: There has been "enormously close co-operation" since the 1990s between US and Colombia. A trade deal in 2011 increased economic ties, even though the US was already Colombia's top trade partner. Now Colombia's government and the Farc are involved in ongoing negotiations to end more than five decades of fighting. The US supports the negotiations and has said it will continue to be a strong partner of Colombia.
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