Obama overselling his “new era” in Americas

President Barack Obama’s recent claim that he has started “a new chapter of engagement” with Latin America has become a new mantra of his administration, but it may be more rooted in wishful thinking than reality.

That’s the first thing that crossed my mind after interviewing U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker last week, when she stopped in Miami to make a speech in which she wrote in her prepared remarks that “this is an historic moment for the Americas, ” and referred to “the Obama administration’s renewed focus on the Americas.”

Pritzker quoted from a recent Obama speech in which the president said that “better relations between the United States and Cuba will create new opportunities for cooperation across our region.” She added that ongoing U.S. talks with 11 Pacific Rim countries — including Japan, Australia, Mexico, Peru and Chile — to sign a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would create the world’s biggest free trade area, and would greatly benefit Latin America.

She also said that “from Guadalajara to Santiago to Sao Paulo, countries across the region, with some exceptions, are gravitating toward a more pro-market, pro-investment democratic vision for their future.” During her visit, she announced upcoming trips to Colombia, Brazil, and — perhaps as early as next month — Cuba.

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