What changes did the Carter administration bring to US-Latin American relations?

The Carter administration brought a focus on human rights and democracy to US-Latin American relations.

Under President Jimmy Carter, the United States' foreign policy towards Latin America underwent a significant shift. Carter's administration prioritised human rights and democracy, marking a departure from previous administrations that had often supported authoritarian regimes in the region for strategic reasons. This new approach was part of Carter's broader foreign policy, which sought to promote human rights globally.

Carter's emphasis on human rights was reflected in his administration's dealings with various Latin American countries. In Argentina, for example, the US reduced military aid in response to the government's human rights abuses during the "Dirty War". Similarly, in Chile, the Carter administration put pressure on the Pinochet regime to improve its human rights record. This represented a significant change from the Nixon administration, which had supported the coup that brought Pinochet to power.

In addition to its focus on human rights, the Carter administration also sought to promote democracy in Latin America. This was most evident in its approach to Nicaragua, where the US initially supported the Sandinista government that came to power in 1979, in the hope that it would establish a democratic system. However, when the Sandinistas failed to live up to these expectations, the US began to support the Contras, a group of anti-Sandinista rebels.

The Carter administration's approach to Latin America was not without its critics. Some argued that the focus on human rights and democracy was naive and ignored the realities of the Cold War. Others claimed that the US was still interfering in Latin American affairs, albeit in a different way. Despite these criticisms, Carter's policies represented a significant shift in US-Latin American relations and set the tone for future administrations.

In conclusion, the Carter administration brought a new focus on human rights and democracy to US-Latin American relations. This represented a significant departure from previous administrations and had a lasting impact on the region.