Les Etats-Unis, l'Amérique centrale et les Caraïbes

In: Politique étrangère: revue trimestrielle publiée par l'Institut Français des Relations Internationales, Volume 48, Issue 4, p. 905-919

Abstract

The United States, Central America and the Caribbean, by Jean-Pierre Clerc
Seen from close up, Central America cornes nowhere near being an homogeneous entity than the Caribbean. Holding the view that thèse twenty countries dotted around the « American Mediterranean » are merged into a single régional set is tantamount to thinking like an American. The fact of the matter is that Washington has for a considérable period of time been looking upon this Central American and Caribbean régional set as its « third frontier » and has wrought upon itself the task of protecting this land and this sea. As it so happens, absolute and relative poverty render these States prone to internai disorders and political turmoil. Washington is thus faced with a pressing dilemma : should the US send Marines to every single area which is being gradually taken over by Marxist movements — or even to areas already taken over by such move-ments as, for instance, Grenada — or should she resort to the solution of a carefully thought out coexistence with revolutionary movements when its very nature, above ail its Puritanism, is instinctively hostile to such movements. After careful study of the « threats » hanging over the région, the author concludes that thèse should not be over-exaggerated and would favour the second option. How-ever, he also examines the conditions which would ensure the safe-guard of US, hence Western, security interests. He holds the view, furthermore, that the other larger States in the region have a part to play in setting up this new modus vivendi and that those European powers who maintain a stake in this area, notably France, must also play an intelligent role in this process.