Increasing EU Presence in Latin America

The people of Latin America are voting for leaders whom they hope can lift the region's millions from the grips of poverty. The gap between rich and poor has become the main issue throughout the region and therefore a primary theme of regional leaders, whether conservative or liberal.

by Fred Nance

In Brazil, the voters recently elected a leftist leader for the first time in their history. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared that combating poverty will be his first priority in South America's largest country.

According to Latin Trade Magazine (October 2002), 211 million people in Latin America are poor—that's 44 percent of the population. They are demanding that their leaders do something. All Latin American leaders agree that trade will be a key component to the turning around of their terrible economic performances and recurring economic collapses. Many nations in the region are racing to make trade deals to try to revive their stagnant economies and to compete in the global market.

Bible prophecy shows that international trade will indeed be pivotal to the health of the world's economy, revealing a coming massive economic system that will lift many nations to prosperity, even to luxury.

Neglect by the United States

"'The United States is no longer focusing efforts on Latin America,' says Thomas G. Travis of Sandler, Travis and Roseberg trade consultancy" (Latin Trade Magazine, October 2002). Confusion in the U.S. administration's Latin American policy has led to a wilting of U.S. influence and credibility throughout the region. "If you look at the events that are likely to dominate the U.S. foreign policy agenda in the near future, you will conclude that President Bush will not be able to return to his pre-Sept. 11 emphasis on Latin American affairs until at least early 2005, say Latin American officials" ("Region Expects More Neglect by U.S.," Miami Herald, Nov. 24, 2002).

Before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, President Bush said that this would be the "Century of the Americas." He envisioned that a Free Trade Area of the Americas would be in place by 2005, which would produce a market of 800 million people in the Americas, stretching from the Arctic to Antarctica. But since the terrorist attacks, the attention of the United States has shifted to fanatic Islamic terrorism, Iraq, the Middle East and North Korea.

Read the full article at www.wnponline.org/wnp/wnp0303/eupresence.htm

Related Information on UCG Sites:

Table of Contents that includes "Increasing EU Presence in Latin America"
Other Articles by Fred Nance

Latin America:

European Union - trade:

Search Our Site
Key Subjects Index
General Topics Index
Biblical References Index
Good News Magazine Index
Booklets and All Literature Index
Home Page of this site