Opening Statement
Ranking Member Dan Burton
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
Committee on Foreign Affairs
March 1, 2007
Overview of U.S. Policy toward Latin America
I would like to personally thank our two distinguished panels for being here today as we begin to delve into the United States' policy toward the diverse nations that make up Latin America, specifically with a keen interest in the current state of affairs and the President's upcoming trip to the region. It is my hope that we are able to determine specific goals for mutual successes with our Latin American counterparts.
Let me start by highlighting some of the successes we have already achieved, success that we must not lose sight of. First, the Security and Prosperity Partnership agreement of 2005 provided a blueprint to combine efforts on issues from common border-security strategies to enhanced infrastructures protection and the ability to combat transnational threats. By addressing common security and prosperity issues through this process, officials in the United States, Mexico and Canada have enhanced existing relationships, created new ones, and have strengthened the foundations for ongoing cooperation among our countries.
Recent talks between the United States and Brazil have initiated extensive cooperation on biofuels and alternative energy. This joint endeavor with Brazilian President Lula da Silva provides an avenue for improving many relations across the region. This is precisely the type of dialogue and partnership that can help to enhance U.S. - Latin American relations.
It is equally important to look to nations such as Colombia which encompass a myriad of challenges within its border, but has made great strides in stemming the growth and use of drugs while addressing other challenges that accompany such widespread illegal activity. As Plan Colombia enters Phase II we should applaud the major developments that have been accomplished and not downplay the significance of our ability to slowly shift resources from a military focus to more social and economic development within Colombia.
That said there is much room for improvement and cause for concern in Latin America. The shift away from democratic values in the region combined with close ties to rogue states such as Iran produces a deadly combination within our hemisphere.
The transfer of illicit drugs continue to make their way to the United States, providing a scary correlation to the flow of immigration and the concern of open access for terrorists. The Security and Prosperity Partnership begins to address this with Canada and Mexico, but we need to work with the nations in Latin America to establish secure borders and knowledge of who is entering and leaving a country.
The final area I would like to highlight is the business climate and the role of trade in Latin America. Economic prosperity is the only way impoverished countries can create the conditions to alleviate poverty, promote the rule of law and strengthen democratic and civil institutions, and thereby improve the lives of the millions who now live in poverty. The opening up of the economy through free trade agreements is one way to achieve economic prosperity. However, the recent trend of tightening the governmental reign over businesses through nationalizing key services is providing the opposite result. Unwillingness to recognize national debt further perpetuates the problem. The ensuing withdrawal of investors from across the world will have a lasting impact on individual countries as well as the region as a whole.
We have a tough agenda before us today. I look forward to hearing each of your perspectives on where we have been with a focus on where the President can be effective while in Latin America, and the best method by which U.S. policy makers should proceed from here.
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