On March 14, President Obama Welcomes President Lula
da Silva of Brazil to the
Oval Office. By all accounts, the
two men have forged an excellent working relationship.
Estadao, Brazil
What Obama Has Changed - and What He Has Not
"For
the first time in almost two centuries, the U.S.A. confronts a region with its
own agenda and a profoundly diverse political and diplomatic environment. … The
Summit provided the ideal setting for an offensive of charm and public
relations by President Barack Obama. The man is the message. … But except in
terms of Cuba, there were few convergences between the presidents."
By Rubens Barbosa
Translated By Brandi
Miller
April 29, 2009
Brazil - Estadao - Original Article (Portuguese)
The fifth summit meeting bringing
together the presidents of the Americas, with the exception of Cuba, carried
out in Trinidad and Tobago, marked a major change in the dynamics of relations
between Latin American and Caribbean countries and the United States of
America.
For the first time in almost
two centuries, the U.S.A. confronts a region with its own agenda and a
profoundly diverse political and diplomatic environment. The very concept of
the Americas has been overwhelmed, because in reality, the hemisphere's
economic and political geography is clearly divided into North, Central and
South America, with interests varied as they are conflicting.
In economics and trade, the gradual
loss of interest of the North American government and business opened up a space
so that Latin America could, in dramatic fashion, diversify the region's
foreign relations with a China, a Russia, a Spain, an India and an Iran.
The region's nations are
creating mechanisms for regional coordination that exclude the United States,
such as Unasul [Union of South American
Nations], the South
American Defense Council and a new group for combating drugs - not to
mention the Bolivarian
Alternative for the People of Our America, which was established to counter
the U.S.A. [Free Trade Agreement].
The Summit provided the ideal
setting for an offensive of charm and public relations by President Barack
Obama. The man is the message.
It's interesting to observe how
the new North American president has, in a very brief period of time, simply by
a change in tone and style, restored U.S. credibility and goodwill before the
international community, which had been worn down by eight disastrous years of
Bush.
In his first contact with the
G-20, in Europe, at NATO, with Russia, with China, with the Islamic world, on a
visit to Turkey, with Iran and, now, with the presidents of the countries of
this hemisphere, Obama has shown the same attitude: at each meeting he said what
the listeners wanted to hear, offered praise, shared smiles and emphasized that
he was there to listen and not dictate rules. At the Summit of the Americas, he
recalled the acts of force taken against the region's countries to say that now
is the beginning of a new era in relations with the U.S.A. He offered a
partnership of equals, where there would be no senior members or junior partners.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
Evidently, in the midst of a
severe economic crisis that has had global repercussions generated by his own
country, and having to turn around two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, not to
mention other severe problems involving Pakistan, Iran, Israel and the Palestinians,
Obama is clearly limited in what he can offer and obtain from his own neighborhood.
[La Razon, Bolivia]
Knowing how to listen, lead
by example and recognize that other countries also have interests to defend are
elements of the new North American diplomatic style. This doesn't mean that
national interests will be set aside. Obama made clear that these things are
important, and not only in this hemisphere but around the rest of the world, but
he recognized that military power is only one tool of U.S. power - and that
diplomacy development aid must be used in a more intelligent way (smart power).
Behind the scenes, Brazilian participation
seems to have been active in averting confrontation and calling attention to
the need for greater understanding in relation to Argentina, Bolivia and
Venezuela. In public meetings, Lula was just another extra on the stage that
Obama illuminated.
Although expectations were
low, the meeting was important - not only for issues that were on the agenda
(human prosperity, energy security and environmental sustainability), but the
discussion, off the stage, about the U.S. embargo on Cuba and the possible end
of Cuba's suspension from the Organization
of American States.
The process of liberalizing
U.S. policy toward Cuba was the theme of Obama's platform during the
presidential campaign and began right after he took office. It is a process in motion
and has nothing to do with the Summit, but it is a part of the new American
foreign policy. To prevent Havana from hijacking the meeting, the government in
Washington announced just days before, measures to facilitate visits, remittances
and trade (telecommunications and agriculture) with Cuba. Not having succeeded
with this strategy, Obama, ever skillful, took advantage of the meeting to
announce a fresh start for relations with the island. He found a receptive ear
in Havana, where Raúl Castro said he was willing to discuss all issues with
Washington.
Cuban
dictator Raul Castro has responded to U.S. overtures
by saying Cuba is willing to discuss
anything and everything
with the U.S. - as long as talks come
'without precondition'
in a spirit of equality.
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SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Gazeta, Russia:
Latin Americans Will Sooner or Later Come 'Crawling' to the U.S.
Gazeta, Russia:
Castro and Chavez Split Over Obama
La Jornada, Mexico:
An Open Letter to Obama: Learn Your History, Sir!
La Jornada, Mexico:
It is 'Important to Pray' for Better U.S.-Cuba Ties
El Universal, Venezuela:
Obama is No 'Black in Chavez' Pocket'
El Universal, Venezuela:
Chavez to Obama: 'Go Wipe Your Ass'!
La Nacion, Chile:
Making Sense of the U.S. Blockade of Cuba
El Mundo, Colombia:
Obama: A Man Who Takes His Promises Seriously
El Tiempo, Colombia:
Survey: Obama 'Most Popular Leader' in the Americas
El Espectador, Colombia:
Cuba in Obama's Sights
El Caribe, Dominican Republic:
Obama's Task at Summit of the Americas: R-E-S-P-E-C-T
La Razon, Bolivia:
President Morales Suspects U.S. Behind Attempt on His Life
Granma, Cuba:
Castro: Easing of Cuba Restrictions 'Positive', But Not Nearly Enough
Granma, Cuba:
Bay of Pigs Led 'Inexperienced Kennedy' to Make 'Misguided Decisions' …
Merco Press, Uruguay:
Lula Vows Not to Embarrass Obama Over Cuba Embargo
NRC Handelsblad, The Netherlands:
U.S. and Cuba: May Negotiation Prove More Effective than Exclusion
Except in terms of Cuba, there
were few convergences between the presidents. The differences are striking in
terms of the fight against poverty, inequality and exclusion, the role of the state
in the market and the economic crisis, the way foreign investment is treated,
the conception of democracy and relations with the U.S.
Despite the cordial but
strained atmosphere of non-confrontation evidenced by the attitude of Hugo
Chávez with regard to the American president and the U.S., the divergence of
perceptions were evident by the lack of consensus and that for the first time
in the history of the Summit, the lack of a signature by all heads of state on the
Summit's final document. The opposition to the text, led by Chávez and the presidents
from other ALBA countries, was the result of the absence of a reference to ending
the embargo against Cuba and a critical analysis of the economic crisis, even though
there was a mention of the OAS and a positive reference to biofeuls.
The difficulty in defining
the seat for this Summit, which was finally held in Trinidad and Tobago - in
the Caribbean - due to pressure from Washington, looks likely to be repeated
for the next Summit. In the Summit's long final document (22 pages and 97
paragraphs), the location of the next meeting or its date were not noted.
*Rubens
Barbos is a business consultant and president of the Foreign Business Council at
the Industry Federation of the State of São Paulo.
CLICK HERE FOR PORTUGUESE VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US May 8, 7:46pm]
