The Huffington Post, March 13th 2016
A few days ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Miami and attend the last Democratic Debate before the Florida Primaries take place this coming Tuesday.
While there, one thing was clear: Latino Voters in Florida are looking for a President who will put Latin America as one of their top priorities when it comes to foreign policy. With that criteria in mind, there is only one person fit for the job: Hillary Clinton.
The Obama administration sometimes does not get credit for its success with Latin America. During the past seven years, the U.S has regained credibility and leadership in the region by building partnerships with a number of countries, downplaying the impact and influence of those who took an aggressive anti-American rhetoric, particularly the ALBA countries fueled by Venezuela’s petro-politics and money, now in crisis given the significant drop in oil prices (another strategic success of the Obama administration).
The Obama Administration, under the advice of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, were correct in the strategy of not engaging in needless political confrontation with governments that truly did not pose a threat to U.S security, but rather and unfortunately a threat to their own people; acknowledging with this strategy that confrontation lends perfectly to these authoritarian regimes. Rather, the strategy focused on human rights enforcement, including relevant actions through multilateral institutions, and stronger anti-corruption and anti-drug enforcement within the United States.
As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton provided leadership and vision to this successful approach, and continues to be outspoken on a variety of issues, such as the Colombian Peace Process, the advancement of democracy in the region, including in key places like Cuba and Venezuela, and the need to greater engage with the region on different topics, including security, trade, and climate change.
On the subject of Cuba, Secretary Clinton was instrumental in reestablishing diplomatic and expanding commercial relations with the island of Cuba, and at the same time, she continues to stand by the people of Cuba in calling out the human rights abuses that have been happening in the island since Fidel Castro came to power in 1959.
The combined impact of this approach will continue to push fundamental changes in Cuba at a time when a transition of power happening from the hands of Raul Castro, who has announced to step down in 2018, after being the strongman succeeding his brother Fidel; but most importantly should bring relieve and empowerment to Cuba’s politically disfranchised people and fragile civil society.
In addition to Cuba, the Country of Venezuela is also facing a difficult situation; one of the highest inflations in the world, skyrocketing insecurity levels, and an authoritarian government led by President Nicolas Maduro, which is constantly being accused of human rights violations. The opening of relations between the U.S. and Cuba comes timely, and represents a major set-back to Maduro and “Chavismo” in Venezuela, which continues, together with declining oil prices.
Once we understand these trends in the region, it is easy to understand why lately President Maduro has kept a strong stance against Hillary Clinton, one of the architects of this successes, while praising Senator Sanders “revolutionary message.”
If President Maduro attacks Secretary Clinton while praising Senator Sanders, it is because he is clear that a Clinton Presidency would mean a positive change for Venezuela and the region, as it was proven with her leadership for the Americas while Secretary of State, particularly, her strong stance to support Democracy in Venezuela, a subject where we have never seen any engagement by Senator Sanders over this critical years in which free press and human rights have been under attack.
Further, in a recent interview with a Colombian radio station, Senator Sanders admitted to not have been following the Colombia Peace Negotiations that have been happening in Havana, Cuba, for over three years.
Unfortunately, Senator Sanders’ lack of understanding on some key foreign policy issues shows that under his presidency, Latin America might not be a top priority. That within itself is a worrying factor for many Americans.
As Latino voters in Florida come out to the polls this Tuesday, many of them will be looking for a leader who will not only empower them here in The United States but someone who will also engage with Latin America; a region that many of them used to call home. Hillary Clinton is that leader; she has the knowledge, experience, and conviction to ensure that The United States of America creates a strategic alliance with our closest neighbors that will allow for our world to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
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Abogando por el Cambio
Vivimos en tiempos de cambio. Tiempos interesantes donde las nuevas formas y herramientas de comunicación adquieren cada día mayor importancia, definiendo nuestras vidas e influyendo en nuestras opiniones, construyendo nuevos espacios para la participación democrática y el poder ciudadano.
Vivimos en tiempos que presentan difíciles desafíos en materia social y económica. La pobreza e iniquidades, el cambio climático global, el uso racional de los recursos naturales, el respeto a los derechos humanos, el desarme para la paz mundial, y el fortalecimiento de los sistemas democráticos, son temas y problemas prioritarios que hoy tienen afortunadamente expresión concreta en instrumentos del derecho internacional.
La globalización ha traído consigo aportes y retos en todos estos frentes, como el surgimiento de un mundo multipolar, con zonas de influencia económica y mercados relativamente integrados, coexistiendo con economías donde la informalidad y la subsistencia alcanza mas de la mitad de sus pueblos. En estas nuevas realidades todavía sigue pendiente promover la igualdad de oportunidades y la movilidad mas libre del factor humano o del factor laboral en la economía global, tal como se promueve el movimiento libre de capital y bienes. En este mundo global los trabajadores y sus sueños de felicidad siguen atrapados por las fronteras nacionales, dentro de las cuales muchos padecen como víctimas de dualismos socioeconómicos e injusticias que les obliga abrirse paso, como sea, para alcanzar esos sueños. A esos movimiento migratorios hay que verlos en su dimensión humana y encontrarle respuestas que acojan el derecho de todo ser humano a encontrar su felicidad y la seguridad de su familia, lo cual pone de relieve la realidad inter-dependiente en que vivimos, y la urgencia de modelos de cooperación internacional mas eficaces y dotados de suficientes recursos.
Finalmente, en ese envolvente proceso de cambios y globalización aparece la importancia de promover la tolerancia y la diversidad; la pluralidad y el pluralismo, dejando atrás visiones elitistas que suponen la primacía o hegemonia de alguna cultura, religión, grupo social o gobierno, por vias de facto que ignoran el derecho de otros.
Nuestra idea es contribuir a la comprensión de nuestra realidad con objetividad; y a la búsqueda de equilibrios, consensos y soluciones justas pero compartidas con relación a los temas y problemas de nuestro tiempo. Te invitamos a mirar alto, esperar lo mejor para todos, participando en "Tribuna".
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