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U.S. Influence Challenged in the Southern Cone
The upcoming U.S. presidential election is expected to have a significant impact on American foreign policy in South America, particularly in the Southern Cone countries of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. China is challenging American preeminence in the region, aggressively pursuing economic engagement and investing billions of dollars in the continent. Meanwhile, criminal networks affiliated with Iran are expanding their footprint in the region, and the countries of the Southern Cone are increasingly becoming a battleground between leftist and center-right forces. The U.S. is also facing challenges in Antarctica, where China is seeking to be recognized as a relevant party in renegotiating the treaty governing the continent. The region's relations with the U.S. and the path of American policy toward Latin America are highly dependent on the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Depending on who wins, the U.S. could either continue its current policies or assume a more activist role in select countries, particularly in response to China's influence in the region.
