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New Soviet Thinking in Latin America
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16445 |
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Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
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5 / 1989 |
1,858 Words |
| Author
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Laurie Abe
Laurie Abe is an editor for the Current Issues section of the
World & I. |
Although Novemyoshie (new thinking) has yet to become an international catchword like perestroika or glasnost, if Gorbachev has his way, it will.
What is alarming U.S. analysts is that a primary target of Gorbachev's "new thinking" is Latin America. As usual these days, the Soviet charm offensive is subtle, for Gorbachev does not want relations with Latin American states to heat up at the cost of chilling relations with the United States. Nonetheless, the Soviets are courting Latin America while the United States appears to be looking away. In Latin America, the Soviets have proposed debt forgiveness when U.S. banks are pushing austerity programs. The Soviets have lowered interest on debts while U.S. rates are rising. The Soviets are pursuing joint economic ventures in the region while the United States is placing ceilings on imports. And the Soviets have shown a willingness to at least appear to lend an ear to varying political positions and diplomatic solutions while the United States holds "firm" on principle, even while the principals are changing.
The Soviets have been charming hosts to the world, laying one concession after another on the table. Today, when Gorbachev plays host, everyone pulls up a chair.
In his book, Perestroika, Gorbachev writes that the Soviet Union is "not going to exploit anti-U.S. attitudes, let alone fuel them." "Nor," he continues, "do we intend to erode the traditional links between Latin America and the United States." The Soviet Union, however, has consistently out-spent the United States in Latin America. And while total Soviet aide may have slackened in the first quarter of 1987, its aid to Central
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