Latin America Is No Longer "Tranquil Backyard" of

U.S.: Int'l Affairs Analyst of DPRK

Pyongyang, June 14 (KCNA) -- Paek Kwang Myong, an international affairs analyst of
the DPRK, released the following article "Latin America is no longer a 'tranquil backyard'
of the U.S." on Wednesday:
As the power of the U.S., which styles itself the "world's only superpower", is draining
away, the hot wind of independence is raging across the vast land of Latin America
which had been called the "tranquil backyard" of the U.S. for the past two centuries.
Since the Fifth U.S. president, James Monroe, raised the deceptive slogan "America for
Americans" in 1823, aggression, plunder and intervention by the U.S. under the spurious
veil of "peace and freedom, democracy and human rights" have ruthlessly violated the
dignity and sovereignty of regional countries to make the region remain as a "tranquil
backyard" of the U.S. for a long time.
Countless are such U.S. aggression and intervention as the seizure of Mexican territory
in the 1840s, the colonization of Puerto Rico and Guantanamo through the first
imperialist war with Spain in the 1890s, the manipulation of pro-U.S. dictatorial regimes
in Nicaragua, Cuba, Chile and other countries from 1930s to 1970s, and the armed
invasion of Panama and Grenada in the 1980s.
The present U.S. sanctions and blockade against Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and
other anti-U.S. independent countries are, in essence, nothing but attempts to revive
"the Monroe Doctrine".
However, the times have changed and the aspirations and enthusiasm of the Latin-
American people to live and develop independently are growing unprecedentedly strong.
In recent years, progressive governments aspiring to independent internal and external
policies have emerged one after another in the region and they are working harder to put
an end to the U.S. monopolistic domination and solve the regional issue by their
concerted efforts.
Regional countries strongly denounce the U.S. moves for disturbing social justice and
progress as a revival of "the Monroe Doctrine" and interference in the internal affairs of
sovereign states, calling for dismantling the Organization of American States which had
been reduced to a U.S. puppet organization, and for strengthening genuine regional
organizations such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States which
excluded the U.S.

Against this background, the seventh summit of the above-said community held in
Argentina late January discussed the issues of further intensifying the activities of the
organization and accelerating the political and economic integration. Regional countries
were vocal in their opposition to all forms of domination and hegemonism during the
summit.
Brazil returned to the Community in January this year, Brazil and Colombia restored their
diplomatic relations with Venezuela and many countries are boosting their political and
economic cooperation with Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua maintaining the stand of
independence against the U.S., expressing support and solidarity with them.
In the economic field, regional countries have buckled down to eliminating US dollars
and introducing common regional currency into their trade. Furthermore, negotiations
and discussions are getting brisk to establish a regional "lithium complex" capable of
producing batteries and electric cars as well as lithium mining among Bolivia, Chile and
Argentina, the "lithium delta" which has more than 60 percent of the world's lithium
reserves, and Mexico, the tenth biggest lithium possessor in the world.
The regional countries proactively follow the trend of multipolarization, maintaining their
independent and individual stand in the international relations.
In recent years, Honduras cut off its relations with Taiwan to follow the example of
Panama, Dominica, El Salvador and Nicaragua, and established diplomatic relations
with China. Ecuador concluded a free trade agreement with China and Brazil, Argentina
and Bolivia decided to use Renminbi in the trade payment.
As regards the Ukrainian situation, regional countries resolutely reject the U.S. and
Western countries' invitation to the racket for pressurizing Russia. Many countries,
including Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela and Bolivia, clarified their intention to join the
BRICS and are taking proactive and practical measures to do so.
This clearly shows that Latin American countries are going to achieve the independent
development of the region under the slogan of justice "Latin America for Latin
Americans" by their joint efforts against the arbitrary and high-handed practices of the
U.S. which has plunged the regional countries into misfortune and distress for centuries.
The deceptive "Monroe Doctrine" has come under severe criticism and rejection, and the
U.S. monopolistic position in Latin America is irreversibly diminishing.
The "tranquil backyard" of the U.S. will soon become an arena of prosperity swept by the
hot wind of independence. -0-