Kerry: Monroe Doctrine Governing Latin American Relations Over

Kerry: Monroe Doctrine Governing Latin American Relations Over

Wednesday, 20 Nov 2013 11:02 AM

http://www.newsmaxworld.com/TheAmericas/us-latin-america-policy/2013/11/20/id/537678?ns_mail_uid=16189840&ns_mail_job=1546883_11202013&promo_code=15AD3-1

Secretary of State John Kerry has declared that a nearly 200-year-old policy which had governed Washington's relations with Latin America was finally dead.

Known as the Monroe Doctrine after it was adopted in 1823 by former President James Monroe, the policy had stated that any efforts by European countries to colonize land in North or South America would be viewed as aggressive acts and could require U.S. intervention.

"The doctrine that bears [Monroe's] name asserted our authority to step in and oppose the influence of European powers in Latin America," Kerry told an audience at the Organization of American States. "And throughout our nation's history, successive presidents have reinforced that doctrine and made a similar choice."

"Today, however, we have made a different choice. The era of the Monroe Doctrine is over," he insisted to applause.

"The relationship that we seek and that we have worked hard to foster is not about a United States declaration about how and when it will intervene in the affairs of other American states." Kerry said. "It's about all of our countries viewing one another as equals, sharing responsibilities, cooperating on security issues and adhering not to doctrine but to the decisions that we make as partners to advance the values and the interests that we share."

Kerry had been roundly criticized earlier this year when he told U.S. lawmakers that "the western hemisphere is our backyard" in comments that triggered anger from some Latin American leaders.

Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled the U.S. Agency for International Development following the speech, and denounced the United States, which he said "probably thinks that here it can still manipulate politically and economically. That is a thing of the past."

Kerry seemed to agree Monday, saying: "Many years ago the United States dictated a policy that defined the hemisphere for many years after. We've moved past that era, and today we must go even further."

"The question is will we work as equal partners in order to achieve our goals?" Kerry asked. "It will require courage and a willingness to change, but above all, it will require a higher and deeper level of cooperation between us, all of us together as equal partners in this hemisphere."

Organization of American States

Bill Richardson is a special envoy for the Organization of American States, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (think tank), and a director at Refugees International.

Note: George Soros is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (think tank), and the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for Refugees International, and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Teresa Heinz Kerry is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (think tank), an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and married to John F. Kerry.

John F. Kerry is married to Teresa Heinz Kerry, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (think tank), and the secretary at the U.S. Department of State for the Barack Obama administration.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Rajiv Shah was the director of agricultural development for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the under secretary for research, education & economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is the administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development.