Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Making nice

It is nice to report positive developments in U.S.-Latin American relations, and to see that diplomacy is not entirely dead. According to La Nación, such is the case with the U.S. effort, led by the ambassador, to patch up relations with Argentina (see also Boz). The idea is to “encapsulate” Maletagate and not let it affect the overall relationship. This also involves convincing Fernandez de Kirchner that it is a police investigation, separation of DOJ and State and all that.

I wrote in December that there is a political angle to the investigation and since it involves Venezuela it is very hard for me to shake that notion. Nonetheless, I do not think the Bush administration is interested in tarnishing Fernández de Kirchner so things may well smooth out. She has the most to gain by working with everyone (like Lula) and her harsh words toward the U.S. (saying the case was “garbage” but not going too far over the top with the rhetoric) very likely pushed the U.S. government to start making amends.

10 comments:

Paul 11:58 AM  

"..very likely pushed the U.S. government to start making amends."

I'm fully aware I'd never make much of a dimplamt. Kirchner gets caught with her hand in Hugo's cookie jar....and it's up to the United States to make amends.

Paul 11:58 AM  

heh, "dimplamt" should be "diplomat."

Justin Delacour 12:15 PM  
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Justin Delacour 12:17 PM  
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Justin Delacour 12:20 PM  

It is nice to report positive developments in U.S.-Latin American relations, and to see that diplomacy is not entirely dead.

I think it's just realist politics. Any U.S. Administration will want to be seen as if it's only concerned about Chavismo and "false populism," not the broader pink tide in the region. If the Administration comes into open conflict with the broader pink tide, the walls of its entire discursive edifice will come crumbling down and the neoliberal monster directing the action from inside will stand naked for all to see. Thus, it better serves U.S. elites' interests to keep the discursive edifice intact (and to keep up the pretense that they are only concerned about Chavismo).

boz 1:06 PM  

Another interesting angle on this is the role of Alberto Fernandez. He was Kirchner's head of cabinet and remains in the same role in his wife's administration, but he seems to have taken a much more active role on the diplomatic front. He apparently was a key reason the US and Argentina maintained open lines of communications throughout the past month.

Tambopaxi 2:48 PM  

Well, the other factor is Tom Shannon, Asst. Sec for Western Hemisphere Affairs. This guy is most definitely not/not Roger Noriega, much less Otto Reich. He's a low key, non-confrontational sort of guy with good relations with Rice. As well, he was NSC advisor for LA and so has good contacts over in the WH.

U.S. Ambassadors as well have instructions to be low key, and not look for fights in the region. I'm assuming Mr. Kirchner is operating under similar instructions from the President, so this all to the good, notwithstanding whatever happens to Cristina as a result of investigations in-country and outside...

Greg Weeks 3:09 PM  

I agree that the individuals involved can play a key role, and seem to in this case, but ambassadors do not always have instructions to be low key.

Bosque 8:50 PM  

Argentina discovered more oil.

I don't think ties were ever broken, Argentina placed restrictions on the US Ambassador.

If countries could learn to talk instead of trying to make demands on each other, the world would be a far better place.

Tambopaxi 5:30 AM  

... I meant, Ambassadors have had instructions to be low key since/since Shannon took over at Western Hemisphere Affairs.....

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