Why Were Latin American Countries Invaded by the US During the Cold War?

During the Cold War, the world was divided into two camps based on divergent ideologies: the USA, representing liberal democratic values in politics and capitalism in economics, and the USSR, advocating for socialism and communism in both realms. It may seem paradoxical to claim that Latin American (LA) countries posed no direct threat to the US, given that many LA countries were indeed influenced by socialism, communism, and state-owned enterprises. This article explores the real threats and motivations behind the US invasions of these countries during the Cold War era.

The Cold War Divide

Under the Truman Doctrine, the US under President Harry S. Truman took on the role of defending the free world. It was declared that any country's shift towards socialist policies, viewed as a natural ally of the USSR (seen as the chief threat to the United States during the Cold War), was a direct challenge to the global dominance of the US. This doctrine led to a series of interventions and covert operations aimed at containing the spread of communism in regions that were considered "the backyard" of the US.

Threat Perception and U.S. Strategy

The perception of a threat from Latin American countries to the US was amplified by their political and economic leanings towards socialism and communism. The idea that any country moving towards these ideologies was a natural ally of the USSR was a prevalent belief among policymakers in Washington. Consequently, the US saw these countries not as allies but as potential fronts for communist expansion.

Unethical Operations and Covert Coup D'états

To counter this threat, the US engaged in a series of unethical operations, often involving the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). These operations were not only harmful to the political stability and human rights of the countries involved but also went against the principles of democratic governance that the US professed to uphold.

One of the most notable instances was the 1973 coup in Chile, where the CIA played a pivotal role in overthrowing democratically elected socialist leader Dr. Salvador Allende and installing Augusto Pinochet as a dictator. This action aimed to destabilize a socialist regime and ensure a right-leaning government in Chile.

Another example is the 1954 covert operation in Guatemala, where the CIA supported a military coup to overthrow democratically elected President Jacobo Arbenz and replace him with a military dictatorship led by Carlos Castillo Armas. This action was driven by a desire to control the country's natural resources and protect the interests of corporations like United Fruit Company, which had significant economic stakes in the region.

Motivations for Invasion

The motivations behind US invasions of Latin American countries during the Cold War were multifaceted. On one hand, the US sought to protect its global geopolitical position by containing the spread of communism. On the other hand, the US was driven by economic interests, ensuring that profitable investments made in resource-rich Latin American countries were safeguarded and profitable.

Conclusion

The US's approach to Latin American countries during the Cold War was complex, driven by a combination of strategic geopolitical concerns and economic motives. The invasions and interventions were often unethical and contrary to the principles of democratic governance, yet they were undertaken to protect the political and economic interests of the US in a global context where the threat of communism was omnipresent.