Inteligencia y Seguridad Frente Externo En Profundidad Economia y Finanzas Transparencia
  En Parrilla Medio Ambiente Sociedad High Tech Contacto
Frente Externo  
 
20/03/2007 | Chile's Push into Central America

Stratfor Staff

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet met with Guatemalan President Oscar Berger on March 18-19 to discuss bilateral accords, including an actively pursued free trade agreement. While in Guatemala, Bachelet also attended a forum for the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), where she announced the creation of an IADB fund to finance development and provide aid for some of the poorest Latin American nations.

 

The $500,000 fund -- the first of its kind to be sponsored by Chile, according to an IADB spokesperson -- is intended to spur technological advancement in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic.

Chile's newfound interest in Central America is uncharacteristic for the South American nation, which historically has been less interested in building economic and political ties with its regional neighbors. Chile, instead, has turned to the world outside of Latin America, forging partnerships -- particularly with Asian nations -- to establish itself as a world player. And while Central American nations have hardly been big geopolitical players, the region's importance is emerging as it becomes the front line in the battle for political influence between the United States and the Latin American left.

Central American nations are important because of their U.S. relationships. The region's proximity to and relationship with the United States makes it a valuable location for economic and political ventures. As a transition zone between the United States and its ally Mexico and the rest of Latin America, Central America is an ideal spot for establishing regimes hostile to the United States or for exporting political agendas. U.S. President George W. Bush recently visited the region during a Latin America tour, stressing that the United States has not forgotten Central America, and promising increased aid.

But while Bush has talked about Central America, rival Venezuela has sought out a Central American presence via Petrocaribe -- a program in which Venezuela provides affordable crude to a list of several Caribbean and Central American countries regardless of market fluctuations. But oil is not all Venezuela is exporting; recognizing the political value of the tiny nations, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has focused on winning their allegiance, having already bought an ally in Nicaragua and continuing to use oil to push his agenda in Central America.

In addition to the region's political value, there are economic benefits for countries with commercial enterprises in Central America. Since the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement is in effect, there are significant trade benefits for exports. Brazil, in particular, is poised to take advantage of this on the ethanol front by announcing plans to establish an ethanol plant in Guatemala, thus circumventing a hefty tariff on Brazilian ethanol.

The reasons for the United States, Brazil and ideology-exporting nations such as Venezuela to seek involvement in Central America are clear; but the motivation for Chile's newfound affinity for the beleaguered region is less easily determined.

It is possible that Chile is merely seeking entry to a region more amenable to economic interaction than it has been in the past, regardless of other countries' regional ambitions. But for Chile, Central America is an easy entry into Latin America's geopolitical framework -- it benefits from relatively small amounts of aid and its political system is not strongly tied to right or left agendas. The region is in the position to be receptive to Chile's center-left, pragmatic politics, particularly when these politics are accompanied by much-needed aid.

Chile has long avoided involvement in regional politics in order to focus on national interests and promotion, and its new interest in Central America does not indicate an abrupt shift in that policy. However, a political battle has begun throughout the region and lines are being drawn. Though it is unlikely that Chile wants to help tip Central America politically toward either the radical left or the United States, it could very well be seeking a larger role in the geopolitics of the region.

Stratfor (Estados Unidos)

 


Otras Notas Relacionadas... ( Records 1 to 10 of 454 )
fecha titulo
07/10/2014 Chile - Rodrigo Peñailillo: «Las bombas las ponen células aisladas, ligadas a anarquistas»
09/09/2014 Chile - Terrorismo ''abominable''
26/01/2014 Chile - Chile: siete claves para entender el gabinete de Bachelet
15/01/2014 Chile - Histórica organización mapuche Ad Mapu analiza escenario político
13/01/2014 Chile: The unrecognized role model of Latin America
26/12/2013 Chile - La presidenta Bachelet
23/12/2013 ¿Qué quieren los chilenos?
22/12/2013 Chile y sus continuidades
17/12/2013 Chile - Bachelet vuelve
16/12/2013 Chile- La socialista que enamora a las clases medias


Otras Notas del Autor
fecha
Título
18/11/2016|
17/04/2016|
27/03/2016|
12/02/2016|
25/10/2013|
29/09/2013|
12/09/2013|
08/09/2013|
06/09/2013|
26/08/2013|
20/08/2013|
20/08/2013|
07/08/2013|
06/08/2013|
31/07/2013|
20/07/2013|
16/07/2013|
03/07/2013|
02/07/2013|
02/07/2013|
01/07/2013|
01/07/2013|
01/07/2013|
05/06/2013|
27/05/2013|
27/05/2013|
27/05/2013|
02/05/2013|
30/04/2013|
19/04/2013|
17/04/2013|
04/03/2013|
01/03/2013|
18/01/2013|
16/11/2012|
16/11/2012|
15/11/2012|
03/08/2011|
03/08/2011|
29/07/2011|
17/07/2011|
17/07/2011|
14/07/2011|
14/07/2011|
13/07/2011|
13/07/2011|
13/07/2011|
13/07/2011|
06/07/2011|
06/07/2011|
07/06/2011|
07/06/2011|
20/05/2011|
20/05/2011|
02/05/2011|
02/05/2011|
19/03/2011|
17/03/2011|
14/03/2011|
12/03/2011|
12/03/2011|
12/03/2011|
12/03/2011|
12/03/2011|
03/03/2011|
22/02/2011|
21/02/2011|
12/02/2011|
01/02/2011|
30/01/2011|
29/01/2011|
28/01/2011|
19/01/2011|
07/01/2011|
29/12/2010|
17/12/2010|
16/12/2010|
10/12/2010|
24/11/2010|
23/11/2010|
15/04/2010|
15/04/2010|
03/04/2009|
31/03/2009|
31/03/2009|
30/03/2009|
30/03/2009|
28/03/2009|
28/03/2009|
26/03/2009|
25/03/2009|
25/03/2009|
23/03/2009|
23/03/2009|
20/03/2009|
19/03/2009|
19/03/2009|
19/03/2009|
19/03/2009|
17/03/2009|
17/03/2009|
17/03/2009|
17/03/2009|
17/03/2009|
17/03/2009|
15/03/2009|
15/03/2009|
14/03/2009|
14/03/2009|
12/03/2009|
12/03/2009|
12/03/2009|
12/03/2009|
11/03/2009|
11/03/2009|
10/03/2009|
10/03/2009|
07/03/2009|
07/03/2009|
07/03/2009|
07/03/2009|
07/03/2009|
07/03/2009|
05/03/2009|
05/03/2009|
05/03/2009|
05/03/2009|
05/03/2009|
05/03/2009|
28/02/2009|
28/02/2009|
28/02/2009|
28/02/2009|
27/02/2009|
27/02/2009|
27/02/2009|
27/02/2009|
19/02/2009|
19/02/2009|
19/02/2009|
19/02/2009|
31/01/2009|
31/01/2009|
31/01/2009|
23/01/2009|
23/01/2009|
18/01/2009|
13/01/2009|
05/01/2009|
02/01/2009|
25/12/2008|
25/12/2008|
24/12/2008|
24/12/2008|
19/12/2008|
14/12/2008|
14/12/2008|
13/12/2008|
13/12/2008|
07/12/2008|
07/12/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
27/11/2008|
26/11/2008|
26/11/2008|
25/10/2008|
25/10/2008|
22/10/2008|
22/10/2008|
15/10/2008|
15/10/2008|
15/10/2008|
15/10/2008|
15/10/2008|
15/10/2008|
11/10/2008|
11/10/2008|
08/10/2008|
08/10/2008|
20/09/2008|
20/09/2008|
20/09/2008|
20/09/2008|
14/09/2008|
14/09/2008|
14/09/2008|
14/09/2008|
08/08/2008|
08/08/2008|
27/07/2008|
27/07/2008|
27/07/2008|
27/07/2008|
27/07/2008|
27/07/2008|
27/07/2008|
27/07/2008|
04/07/2008|
04/07/2008|
04/07/2008|
04/07/2008|
04/07/2008|
04/07/2008|
12/05/2008|
17/04/2008|
17/04/2008|
25/03/2008|
24/03/2008|
24/03/2008|
18/03/2008|
18/03/2008|
10/03/2008|
07/03/2008|
22/02/2008|
22/02/2008|
22/02/2008|
18/02/2008|
18/02/2008|
18/02/2008|
16/02/2008|
13/02/2008|
12/02/2008|
09/02/2008|
05/01/2008|
30/12/2007|
30/12/2007|
30/12/2007|
27/12/2007|
21/11/2007|
21/11/2007|
21/11/2007|
21/11/2007|
21/11/2007|
21/11/2007|
21/11/2007|
11/11/2007|
10/11/2007|
30/10/2007|
04/10/2007|
28/09/2007|
16/09/2007|
16/09/2007|
08/09/2007|
06/09/2007|
30/08/2007|
26/08/2007|
22/08/2007|
22/08/2007|
22/08/2007|
21/08/2007|
11/08/2007|
08/08/2007|
14/07/2007|
02/05/2007|
02/05/2007|
20/04/2007|
20/04/2007|
20/04/2007|
20/04/2007|
18/04/2007|
18/04/2007|
18/04/2007|
18/04/2007|
16/04/2007|
16/04/2007|
16/04/2007|
16/04/2007|
16/04/2007|
16/04/2007|
16/04/2007|
16/04/2007|
14/04/2007|
14/04/2007|
14/04/2007|
14/04/2007|
13/04/2007|
13/04/2007|
11/04/2007|
11/04/2007|
11/04/2007|
11/04/2007|
04/04/2007|
04/04/2007|
31/03/2007|
30/03/2007|
30/03/2007|
30/03/2007|
30/03/2007|
28/03/2007|
20/03/2007|
20/03/2007|
20/03/2007|
15/03/2007|
15/03/2007|
15/03/2007|
08/03/2007|
08/03/2007|
08/03/2007|
08/03/2007|
01/03/2007|
28/02/2007|
27/02/2007|
27/02/2007|
27/02/2007|
27/02/2007|
27/02/2007|
27/02/2007|
27/02/2007|
08/02/2007|
08/02/2007|
08/02/2007|
08/02/2007|
07/02/2007|
07/02/2007|
07/02/2007|
07/02/2007|
05/02/2007|
05/02/2007|
05/02/2007|
05/02/2007|
05/02/2007|
05/02/2007|
05/02/2007|
05/02/2007|
05/02/2007|
05/02/2007|
05/02/2007|
05/02/2007|
02/02/2007|
02/02/2007|
01/02/2007|
01/02/2007|
01/02/2007|
01/02/2007|
31/01/2007|
31/01/2007|
25/01/2007|
25/01/2007|
23/01/2007|
23/01/2007|
23/01/2007|
23/01/2007|
10/01/2007|
10/01/2007|
03/01/2007|
30/12/2006|
30/12/2006|
30/12/2006|
30/12/2006|
30/12/2006|
30/12/2006|
23/12/2006|
23/12/2006|
23/12/2006|
23/12/2006|
23/12/2006|
23/12/2006|
23/12/2006|
23/12/2006|
23/12/2006|
23/12/2006|
20/12/2006|
20/12/2006|
20/12/2006|
20/12/2006|
16/12/2006|
16/12/2006|
16/12/2006|
16/12/2006|
16/12/2006|
16/12/2006|
15/12/2006|
15/12/2006|
15/12/2006|
15/12/2006|
15/12/2006|
15/12/2006|
12/12/2006|
12/12/2006|
12/12/2006|
12/12/2006|
12/12/2006|
12/12/2006|
05/12/2006|
05/12/2006|
05/12/2006|
05/12/2006|
05/12/2006|
05/12/2006|
02/12/2006|
02/12/2006|
29/11/2006|
29/11/2006|
29/11/2006|
29/11/2006|
22/11/2006|
22/11/2006|
22/11/2006|
22/11/2006|
18/11/2006|
18/11/2006|
17/11/2006|
16/11/2006|
14/11/2006|
13/11/2006|
11/11/2006|
11/11/2006|
11/11/2006|
08/11/2006|
07/11/2006|
07/11/2006|
04/11/2006|
04/11/2006|
01/11/2006|
31/10/2006|
31/10/2006|
31/10/2006|
28/10/2006|
28/10/2006|
24/10/2006|
24/10/2006|
24/10/2006|
24/10/2006|
21/10/2006|
21/10/2006|
18/10/2006|
18/10/2006|
18/10/2006|
18/10/2006|
18/10/2006|
18/10/2006|
14/10/2006|
14/10/2006|
14/10/2006|
14/10/2006|
14/10/2006|
14/10/2006|
07/10/2006|
05/10/2006|
05/10/2006|
05/10/2006|
29/09/2006|
28/09/2006|
27/09/2006|
27/09/2006|
27/09/2006|
24/09/2006|
23/09/2006|
23/09/2006|
23/09/2006|
30/08/2006|
30/08/2006|
27/08/2006|
02/08/2006|
02/08/2006|
30/07/2006|
30/07/2006|
28/07/2006|
28/07/2006|
23/07/2006|
19/07/2006|
15/07/2006|
14/07/2006|
06/07/2006|
06/07/2006|
06/07/2006|
06/07/2006|
30/06/2006|
30/06/2006|
30/06/2006|
30/06/2006|
30/06/2006|
30/06/2006|
26/06/2006|
26/06/2006|
24/06/2006|
24/06/2006|
22/06/2006|
22/06/2006|
20/06/2006|
20/06/2006|
20/06/2006|
20/06/2006|
20/06/2006|
20/06/2006|
20/06/2006|
20/06/2006|
05/06/2006|
04/06/2006|
03/06/2006|
02/06/2006|
02/06/2006|
01/06/2006|
01/06/2006|
31/05/2006|
29/05/2006|
28/05/2006|
23/05/2006|
17/05/2006|
17/05/2006|
13/05/2006|
07/05/2006|
07/05/2006|
06/05/2006|
06/05/2006|
04/05/2006|
02/05/2006|
02/05/2006|
30/04/2006|
25/04/2006|
24/04/2006|
24/04/2006|
23/04/2006|
23/04/2006|
21/04/2006|
21/04/2006|
21/04/2006|
18/04/2006|
18/04/2006|
18/04/2006|
18/04/2006|
17/04/2006|
13/04/2006|
13/04/2006|
10/04/2006|
08/04/2006|
06/04/2006|
06/04/2006|
05/04/2006|
30/03/2006|
28/03/2006|
28/03/2006|
27/03/2006|
24/03/2006|
24/03/2006|
24/03/2006|
24/03/2006|
24/03/2006|
24/03/2006|
22/03/2006|
22/03/2006|
20/02/2006|
20/02/2006|
18/02/2006|
11/02/2006|
11/02/2006|
11/02/2006|
07/02/2006|
26/01/2006|
25/01/2006|
22/01/2006|
19/01/2006|
19/01/2006|
14/01/2006|
14/01/2006|
12/01/2006|
12/01/2006|
06/01/2006|
20/12/2005|
01/08/2005|
06/01/2005|

ver + notas
 
Center for the Study of the Presidency
Freedom House