Biden visits Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil: Lip Service or substantive reform?

Last Saturday, Vice President Joe Biden returned from a six day trip to Brazil, Colombia, and Trinidad & Tobago. Following President Obama’s recent trip to Mexico and Costa Rica, this tour had the purpose of reinforcing partnerships in the region.

In Colombia, the Vice President applauded the “longtime ally’s” peacekeeping efforts, reveled in the fact that security issues are now second-tier to economy and trade, and praised Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos as a Latin American economic and security leader.

Biden then headed to Trinidad & Tobago, where he met with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and other Caribbean leaders. Discussions have been described as “frank,” as concerns were voiced over the perception of the United States’ lack of interest in the region.

To end the tour, Biden headed to Brazil and emphasized the importance of strengthening Brazil-U.S. relations, singling out the former as a developed nation and the leader of the global south.

The Vice President witnessed a “good sense of dynamism across the Americas;” an Americas that the United States can now envision as more secure and democratic, where the issue is no longer what can we do for the region, but what can we do together. But was this trip more than a listening tour? The administration has given the region a lot of attention recently, but where are the deliverables?

Q1: Were there any concrete achievements?

A1: Biden wrapped up his visit in the Caribbean by signing a trade agreement with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), an organization of 15 Caribbean nations, and a renewable energy agreement with Trinidad & Tobago. In Brazil, he announced that President Dilma Rousseff will be invited to the United States in October as the only state visit this year. The Vice President also announced possible upcoming trips to the region in the fall and winter.

Q2: Is this a sign the United States is paying more attention to the region?

A2: Yes, especially through visits. High profile speeches and the presence of the most senior U.S. officials in the region is proof of that.

Q3: Is the Vice President the new point man for Latin America?

A3: The White House chose the Vice President to lead this tour, and it is the first time a member with a rank this high has taken Latin America as a foreign policy initiative. Biden has a history of showing interest in the region; as a senator, he was vocal on U.S. policy towards Colombia, on rights for U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba, and supportive of trade initiatives with the region. Having the United States’ second-in-command involved in Latin America is a good thing and might help make countries in the region a first-tier priority for U.S foreign policy.

Conclusion: An active Latin America has forced the United States to reconsider its relationships in the region. The Vice President’s trip could be an indication that he has now become the United States’ Latin America point man. In his speech in Rio di Janeiro, Biden mentioned that “history has delivered us to a moment where the possibilities are immense, and we either take advantage of it or it passes us by.” However, it seemed like the purpose of the Vice President’s visit was to announce minor developments. A serious step would have been to introduce specific initiatives, such as a tax treaty with Brazil or to announce the inclusion of Colombia into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). As the Vice President said, the climate seems right for these kinds of big ideas, so what else is the United States waiting for?

Carl Meacham is the director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. Pamela Pamelá, intern scholar with the Americas Program at CSIS, provided research assistance.

Critical Questions is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. CSIS does not take specific policy positions. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).

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