Latin America Looks for a Fresh Start With Obama

A full plate of foreign-policy challenges, including a war on terror, left the US little choice but to neglect Latin America in recent years, occasionally repeating old advice on drugs, free trade and democratic elections. So the region set out to establish its own global connections, and one example is China’s trade with Latin America increased tenfold over the past decade. President Barack Obama signals intentions to shore up ties with neighboring nations, meeting with Mexico’s president before taking the oath of office, planning an early visit to Canada and making the Summit of the Americas his first regional meeting. “Improving relations with the western hemisphere – as an early item on his diplomatic agenda and not as an afterthought, as most US Presidents approach it – could turn out to be a relatively easy way to prime the pump for better relations with the rest of the world,” writes Tim Padgett for Time. Some analysts anticipate Obama’s presidency to inspire change in other countries as well. Tirelessly emphasizing positive opportunities could do more to improve ties throughout the Americas than negative preaching. – YaleGlobal