Latin America Hopes for 'Lesser of Two Evils' in US Presidential Election

Latin America is expecting no positive changes in the relations with the United States following the upcoming presidential election, regional politicians and experts told Sputnik.

MOSCOW/MONTEVIDEO (Sputnik) — According to the Venezuelan general William Izarra, none of the candidates will be able to improve relations with Latin America, "in the sense that each country will be given the freedom to decide their own destiny."

At the same time Izarra said that "Trump would be able to affect the sovereignty of Latin America less." Should Clinton become president, the United States "will again intervene in all" affairs of Venezuela, like in 2002, when Washington supported a coup attempt. "Trump may intervene but… I think that he will be more focused on migration policy," the general said. He stressed that "Clinton is more dangerous for Latin America and the world at large."

Peruvian political scientist and director of the Institute of Public Opinion at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru David Salmont believes that the relative stability that characterizes the relations between the United States and Latin America, may change in case of Trump's victory.

"Donald Trump announced the measures that can change the normal pattern of relations between the United States and Latin America, particularly with regard to trade agreements and migration control," Salmont said.

Member of the Commission for the International Relations of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies Eduardo Amadeo questioned the ability of the GOP nominee to engage in dialogue. "Trump is not a guarantee for the dialogue in the region, but on the contrary, [a guarantee for] the conflict mostly," Amadeo said.

Chilean expert Pablo Jofre believes that Trump will continue to pursue Washington's policy toward Latin America. He added that the Republican candidate has "scant knowledge of foreign policy" and "does not know the continent." Clinton, according to the expert, would also pose a risk for some Latin American countries. Jofre believes that her foreign policy would not change seriously, but there is a risk of "increase of the destabilizing actions against the Venezuelan and Bolivian governments," Latin America would also face threats of "interference, embargoes, coups, destabilization."

Latin American experts noted almost complete absence of the regional theme in the debates this year. "Latin America is not represented in this campaign, with the exception of issues relating to Mexico and Cuba, which in a way affect the internal affairs of the United States," Latin American studies specialist Rodrigo Paez Montalban from Mexico said. He added that campaigns of both Clinton and Trump leave "two big questions about what will the US policy toward Latin America really be."

The US presidential election will take place on November 8.