What was Latin America's political stance during WWII?

During WWII, Latin America's political stance was largely neutral, although many countries eventually sided with the Allies.

At the onset of World War II, most Latin American countries declared neutrality. This was largely due to the region's geographical distance from the conflict and the desire to avoid entanglement in the global power struggle. However, as the war progressed, the political stance of Latin America began to shift.

The United States, with its significant influence in the region, played a crucial role in swaying Latin America's stance. The US launched the Good Neighbour Policy, which aimed to improve relations with Latin American countries and discourage them from aligning with the Axis powers. This policy, coupled with the fear of fascist expansion, led many Latin American countries to reconsider their neutral stance.

By the end of the war, all Latin American countries, except Argentina and Chile, had declared war on the Axis powers. Argentina maintained a neutral stance until the last days of the war, when it finally declared war on Germany and Japan. Chile, on the other hand, remained neutral throughout the war, although it did sever diplomatic relations with the Axis powers.

Despite their late entry into the war, Latin American countries contributed to the Allied cause in various ways. Brazil, for instance, sent an expeditionary force to fight in Italy and allowed the US to use its air bases for operations in North Africa. Mexico, despite its initial neutrality, declared war on the Axis powers in 1942 following the sinking of two of its oil tankers. It also contributed to the war effort by supplying the Allies with vital resources and manpower.

In conclusion, while Latin America's political stance during WWII was initially neutral, the influence of the United States and the threat of fascist expansion led most countries in the region to side with the Allies. However, the extent of their involvement in the war varied, with some countries actively participating in combat and others contributing resources and manpower.