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| International relations of South America | |
|---|---|
| Name | South America |
| Caption | Political map of South America |
| Capital | Brasília |
| Largest city | São Paulo |
| Official languages | Portuguese language, Spanish language |
| Area km2 | 17840000 |
| Population | 430000000 |
International relations of South America South American states conduct diplomacy shaped by colonial legacies, post-independence wars, and twentieth-century diplomatic realignments involving Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, United States, and France. Contemporary relations feature multilateralism through institutions such as the Union of South American Nations, Mercosur, and the Organization of American States, alongside bilateral ties linking capitals like Brasília, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Bogotá, and Lima.
The nineteenth century saw independence leaders like Simón Bolívar, José de San Martín, and Bernardo O'Higgins shape interstate rivalries resolved in conflicts including the War of the Pacific and the Paraguayan War, while treaties such as the Treaty of Tordesillas and later arbitration by the Papal States left territorial legacies affecting relations among Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. The twentieth century featured interventions and influence by the United States via doctrines invoked in the Spanish–American War aftermath and the Good Neighbor Policy, alongside diplomatic currents tied to the Non-Aligned Movement and the Cold War impacting parties like Cuba, Venezuela, and Argentina during events such as the Cuban Revolution and the National Reorganization Process. Post-dictatorship transitions in countries like Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil brought commitments to regional dispute resolution through bodies like the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and legal instruments such as the American Convention on Human Rights.
Regional architecture includes Mercosur with founding members Argentina and Brazil and associates like Paraguay and Uruguay; the Andean Community linking Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; and the short-lived Union of South American Nations initiative championed by leaders including Hugo Chávez and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Multilateral platforms such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the Organization of American States interface with finance institutions like the Inter-American Development Bank and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF). Cross-border projects such as the IIRSA infrastructure agenda, the Pan-American Highway, and energy corridors involving Bolivia and Peru illustrate integration efforts debated at summits in Cuzco and Brasília.
Bilateral dynamics feature historic rivalries like Chile–Peru relations post-War of the Pacific and border disputes resolved by the International Court of Justice between Chile and Bolivia or arbitration cases involving Ecuador and Peru. Strategic partnerships include defense and trade accords between Argentina and Brazil, energy diplomacy linking Venezuela with Colombia and Brazil, and cooperation frameworks such as the Southern Common Market agreements negotiated in Montevideo. Cross-border indigenous rights and riverine disputes implicate states like Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname, while boundary commissions such as the Brazil–Guyana Mixed Commission manage legacy treaties like the Treaty of Utrecht influences and colonial-era claims related to New Granada and Gran Colombia inheritances.
Extra-continental ties encompass strategic relations with the United States anchored in trade pacts like the Andean Trade Preference Act history, investment flows from the European Union and bilateral relations with China involving the Belt and Road Initiative-linked projects and sovereign lending through institutions such as the China Development Bank. Military and scientific cooperation with Russia and diplomatic engagement with India and Japan manifest at multilateral fora like the G20 and the United Nations General Assembly. Overseas dependencies such as French Guiana create EU external border considerations, while arbitration cases at the International Court of Justice and engagement with the International Criminal Court influence state conduct toward actors including Nicaragua and Haiti.
Security challenges include drug trafficking routes involving Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru tied to coca production and organized crime networks prosecuted under cooperation agreements with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and regional operations coordinated by the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization or bilateral initiatives with Brazil. Border disputes have triggered military contingencies such as the Beagle conflict precedents and cooperative peacekeeping contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions from countries like Argentina and Brazilian Expeditionary Force legacies. Environmental security and indigenous conflicts intersect with illicit mining in Venezuela and Guyana and piracy concerns in the Caribbean Sea and along the Atlantic coast.
Trade blocs such as Mercosur, the Andean Community, and agreements with the European Union shape tariff regimes and investment protections involving multinationals from Spain and United States firms. Commodity diplomacy centers on exports of soybeans from Brazil, copper from Chile, oil from Venezuela and Ecuador, and lithium from Bolivia and Chile, prompting state-led policies like nationalization episodes in Argentina and Bolivia and foreign direct investment from China National Petroleum Corporation. Financial crises, capital flight, and stabilization programs have drawn engagement with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and regional lenders such as the Banco del Sur initiatives championed by left-leaning administrations.
Transboundary environmental issues include Amazon Basin governance under the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, conservation accords involving Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, and disputes over hydroelectric projects like the Itaipu Dam shared by Brazil and Paraguay. Climate diplomacy sees South American delegations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and participation in accords such as the Paris Agreement, while biodiversity protection engages institutions like the Convention on Biological Diversity and scientific networks including the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Water-sharing treaties such as those governing the Rio de la Plata basin and multilateral arbitration mechanisms address resource allocation among riparian states including Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
Category:Foreign relations of South America