Democracy News

Obama Visits Latin America; Hails Democratic Progress in the Region
March 22, 2010
By: Carlos Aramayo | Printer Friendly

On March 19, United States President Barack Obama kicked off a five day tour of Latin America that includes stops in Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador. The trip, which was announced during the State of the Union address, is an effort to promote American investment and exports in a region that has escaped the global economic downturn virtually unscratched.

After spending his first day in Brasilia discussing trade and economic relations with Brazil’s first female president, Dilma Rousseff, Obama travelled to Rio de Janeiro where he delivered a speech meant to deliver a broader message to the Brazilian people. According to the Telegraph, Obama hailed Brazil as an example of how democracy “delivers both freedom and opportunity to its people.” Furthermore he added, “So what has been accomplished here in Brazil is nothing short of remarkable.”

Following his weekend visit to Brazil, Obama landed in the Chilean capital of Santiago where he laid out a vision for deeper trade, investment and political ties with the economically dynamic region. “No region is more closely linked than the United States and Latin America,” Obama told a news conference after talks with Chilean President Sebastian Piñera.

During his Latin American policy speech at Santiago's Palacio de La Moneda Cultural Center, Obama took special note to praise Chile's transition from military rule to stable democracy, suggesting it could serve as a model for countries in the Arab world swept by popular rebellions against autocratic rule.

According to the Voice of America, Obama exemplified the region’s democratic progress, "from Mexico to Chile to Costa Rica we’ve seen historic peaceful transfers of power - from El Salvador to Uruguay to Paraguay. The work of perfecting our democracies, of course, is never truly done.  But this is the outstanding progress that has been made here in the Americas," Obama stated.

Calling Latin America more important than ever to the prosperity and security of the United States, Obama laid out his new vision for the Americas: "Security for our citizens, trade and development that creates jobs, prosperity and a clean energy as well as standing up for democracy and human rights.  These are the partnerships that we can forge together here in the Americas and around the world.”

According to the BBC, Obama will visit El Salvador on the final leg of his Latin American tour to focus on the drug trafficking and violence that continue to plague much of Central America.

Sources:
Washington Post - Obama praises Brazil as model of democracy

UK Telegraph – Libya: Barack Obama hails Brazil as example to follow

Voice of America – Obama Aims to Show Support for Democracy in Latin America

Voice of America – Obama Proposes New Equal Partnership for the Americas

BBC - Obama to address Latin American people on Chile visit

Radio Netherlands – Obama visits violence-plagued El Salvador