ICYMI: Rubio: A New U.S. Agenda in the Western Hemisphere
Op-Ed
A New U.S. Agenda in the Western Hemisphere
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
February 11, 2022
National Review
The United States faces a growing bloc of anti-American, authoritarian regimes in Latin America and the Caribbean . Further authoritarian and leftist victories in the Western Hemisphere would be disastrous for our nation. Chaos in Latin America and the Caribbean would give cartels greater operating freedom to send drugs and violence across our border . To counter the rising authoritarian axis in our hemisphere, the U.S. needs a stronger agenda for protecting and advancing our national interests.
First, the U.S. needs to cooperate more closely with our allies in the region in security and anti-narcotics. Senator Bob Menendez (D., N.J.) and I have introduced the Western Hemisphere Security Strategy Act to do just that. This bill will enable the U.S. to more effectively resist drug-traffickers and authoritarian governments, including those of China and Russia .
Second, America needs to expand its trade network in the Western Hemisphere. Our dependence on China has turned our corporations into Beijing's lobbyists and propagandists , [and] it's robbed us of our economic independence and resilience. While we should bring as much manufacturing back to the U.S. as possible, expanding production in Latin America and the Caribbean will also be beneficial .
Initiatives like these, which encourage private investment in our own hemisphere, promise significant benefits. They offer freedom from the Chinese Communist Party's subversive influence, as well as a stronger, more resilient national economy .
Finally, the White House needs to support our allies in Latin America and the Caribbean in their efforts to reach internal stability .
The U.S. will not win favor with our allies by lecturing them about climate change and various woke priorities . The Biden administration needs to start offering a real partnership with these countries, and that begins with targeted assistance and bilateral economic negotiations .
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