Cold War in Latin America: Early Period

Overview

• Monroe Doctrine: America's old foreign policy doctrine, seeing Latin America as part of its sphere of influence.
• Cold War Context: US needed to ensure loyalty from Latin American countries to counter Soviet influence.

Inequality in Latin America

• Stark Inequality: Few wealthy families vs. majority struggling for basics.
• Dissent: High inequality was a breeding ground for socialist movements.
• Friendly Governments: Many Latin American governments fostering inequality were allied with the US.

Latin American Alliances During WWII

• Uruguay and Argentina: Preferred neutrality or had sympathies for Germany.
• Support for Allies: Mexico (Aztec Eagles), Brazil (Atlantic patrols and Italian campaign).

Post-War Period

• Lower Priority: US focused on Europe, Korea, Vietnam, but still aimed to maintain influence in Latin America.
• Regional Defense: US established regional defense organizations to counter communism.
• Inter-American Cooperation: Continued through the formation of defense pacts and discussions.

Key Conferences and Pacts

• Chapultepec Conference (1945): Development, aid, regional security pacts, aligning with UN goals.
• Rio de Janeiro Conference (1947): Formation of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty), explicitly anti-communist.
• Organization of American States (OAS) (1948): Fostered development, regional peace, and representative democracy.

US Cold War Interventions

• Anti-Communist Priority: US prioritized anti-communism over fostering democracy.
• Guatemala (1954): Example of this policy in action.

Guatemala Case Study

• Dictatorial Rule: Dictatorship governments aligned with US economic interests, prominently United Fruit Company (UFC).
• 1944 Revolution: Overthrew dictator Jorge Biko, leading to the election of Juan José Arévalo.
• Reforms: Introduction of minimum wage, suppression of communist influence but US suspicion remained.

President Jacobo Árbenz

• Moderate Reforms: Land reforms taking uncultivated land from wealthy landowners, boosting the economy.
• UFC Opposition: Reforms threatened UFC's interests.

US and UFC - Cold War Context

• CIA Involvement: Operation PP Fortune (initial failed plan), Operation PBSuccess (successful coup).
• CIA Strategies: Psychological warfare, training mercenaries, leading to Árbenz's resignation.
• Aftermath: Castillo Armas' military junta, Operation PB History (no USSR ties found, widespread condemnation).
• Long-term Impact: Inspired future revolutionaries (e.g., Fidel Castro, Che Guevara).

Conclusion

• Repeated Pattern: CIA-backed coups against elected governments in Latin America during the Cold War.
• Further Developments: History would see similar interventions.
• Channel Information: Contact details and call for support.