US and Latin America: Operations

The United States has long conducted operations interfering in the internal affairs of Latin American countries. In 1954, the CIA carried out 'Operation PBSuccess' and overthrew the democratically elected president of Guatemala, Jacobo Arbenz. In 1961, Americans trained Cuban exiles for the invasion at 'Bay of Pigs,' which failed. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the CIA supported various coups in Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, and other countries, aiming to strengthen pro-American regimes. In the 1980s, the United States actively fought against the left-wing government in Nicaragua by providing funding and weapons to the Contras. Operations in Panama emerged: in 1903, support for a rebellion led to its separation from Colombia, and in 1989, 'Just Cause' overthrew General Noriega. By 2026, reports mentioned 'Operation Absolute Resolve' in Venezuela, intended to seize power from President Nicolas Maduro. These events raise questions about international sanctions, reactions from the European Union, and future actions by the United States.

Context

The United States has been interfering in the affairs of Latin American countries since the 1950s, as part of the Cold War and the policy of expanding influence.