Chapter 6 >The Changing Geopolitical Landscape > Latin America

U.S. Report - pdf version Leaders Questionnaire - pdf version Public Questionnaire - pdf version

Latin America

Although the war on terrorism has directed media attention elsewhere, several Latin American countries— most notably Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba—remain quite important in Americans’ views of the world and U.S. foreign policy.

Mexico, our next-door neighbor and key trading partner, is seen as a vital interest of the United States by 72% of the public. Despite some tensions over illegal immigration and trade (36% say Mexico practice unfair trade, though this is lower than the 50% who say it practices fair trade, see Figure 6-18), Mexico gets a quite warm 60 degree average rating on the feeling ther-mometer, which puts it alongside key American allies Germany and Japan.

Colombia is seen as a vital interest by a substantial 62% of the public, but has a quite chilly average ther-mometer rating of 36 degrees, presumably because of the drug problem. Stopping the flow of illegal drugs into the United States is considered a very important goal of U.S. foreign policy goal by 81% of Americans. A solid 66% of Americans favor using U.S. troops to fight drug lords in Colombia.

Cuba and its leader, Fidel Castro, long-time neme-ses of U.S. foreign policy, continue to be viewed quite coldly by the U.S. public, with average thermometer ratings of 35 and 22 degrees, respectively. But there are signs of a thaw in American attitudes about Cuba. A solid majority (65%) favors having diplomatic relations with Cuba, and a slight majority (52%) favors engaging in trade with Cuba (46% opposed). Only a bare majori-ty of Americans (51%) now favor economic sanctions against Cuba (down 7 points since 1998), with 41% opposed (up 11 points since 1998).

Other Latin American countries are less salient to the U.S. public. Brazil, though receiving a fairly warm average thermometer rating of 55 degrees, is seen as a vital interest of the United States by only 36%. Argentina, rated a bit more coolly (47 degrees on the thermometer) is seen as a vital interest by only 39%.