Indeed, it looked as if the US had found an equilibrium in its dealings with Latin America. The end of the cold war made it unnecessary to champion anti-Communist strongmen. The insistence on liberalisation is, of course, related to the outcome of the cold war. As Washington sees it, the world must now conclude that there is no alternative to laissez-faire economics. And Latin America, once known as the US' backyard, is expected to chime in.
Protectionism goes into the dustbin.
Bring down the trade barriers and stop subsidising home-grown industry. The war on drugs is another American concern, and Latin America is a key battlefield. A sizeable portion of drugs sold in the US is believed to have been cultivated and processed in Latin America. Hence, Washington's intense pressure to combat drug production, notably in Bolivia and Peru, and processing, notably in Colombia. Much US aid to the region is also tied to energetic efforts to extradite the more notorious cartel leaders.