[SANITIZED]LATIN AMERICA REGIONAL AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS 3 MARCH 1977 - 1977/03/03

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06627908
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: March 3, 1977

Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06627908
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Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06627908
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06627908
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LATIN AMERICA
3 March 1977
CONTENTS
3.5(c)
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Southern Cone Reaction to US Policy Moves 1
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This publication is ,prepared'for regional special isti-in the Washington community by
the Latin America Division,: .Office Of Regional and Political Analysis with oc-
casional contributions from other offices within the Directorate of Intelligence.
Comments and queries are weltbine, They should be directed to the authors of the
individual articles
RP ALA 77-018
3 'March 1977
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06627908
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06627908
3.5(c)
SoUthern-ConeeactiOn_to US Policy Moves.
US efforts in support of human rights and against
nuclear proliferation are arousing deep resentment in
southern South America. The US stance on these problems
seems certain to add to, the already pronounced tendency
of Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and to some extent Brazil
to draw closer together in response to shared problems
and common perceptions of the outside world.
Washington's decision to scale down aid to Uruguay
and Argentina because of human rights abuses has produced
angry reactions in Montevideo and Buenos Aires. Both
governments have announced their Intention to refuse
even the reduced aid Still aVaiIablAto them. Uruguay
called the move by WaShihgtitin unjustified interference
in its internal affairs; both countries claimed the ac-
tion could only aid the Ceuse,of subversion.
Brazil, already smarting over US pressures to limit
its access to foreign nuclear technology, is taking a
dim view of the aid, cuts. Though not directly affected,
the Brazilians undoubtedly see the reductions as another
example of US "intrusion" in the area's affairs. More-
over, the military-backed government in Brasilia may be-
lieve that it too could come in for serious US pressure
on the human tights is Sue at some point. Army Minister.
General Sylvio Frota has reportedly said the latest move
indicates the US is "writing off the military governments
of Latin America as its friends 6"
Us efforts to influence the Brazilians on the nu-
clear issue also are having an unsettling effect in
Buenos Aires. Instead of Applauding a move that could
conceivably arrest the nuclear progress of traditional
rival Brazil, the Argentines are expressing solidarity
with their neighbor, in the face of external pressure.
The, Argentines obviously realize their own imports of
nuclear equipment could take' them susceptible to similar
pressures.
RP ALA 77-018
3 March 1977
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06627908
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06627908
Argentina tny see an opportunity in the present
situation to rebuild its regional influence by capitali-
zing on the resentment of US efforts.
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The physical isolation that has always cut off
Southern Cone countries from the rest of the world has
in recent years been accentuated by the growing distaste
in the US and Europe for the kinds of governments that
hold sway in the region. The latest US actions cannot
fail to increase this sense of isolation.
All of the Southern Cone countries are administered
by like-mindedu conservative regimes run or at least
dominated by their respective military establishments.
Most came-intell5eing in response to real or perceived
threats from the left and all justify their methods of
operating by citing the continuing, if diminished, threat
of communism. The leaders of these countries genuinely
believe they are being abandoned by the US, which has
consistently warned them of the dangers of communism.
It seems almost certain that the Southern Cone nations
will feel even more keenly the need to look to one an-
other for support and approval.
3.5(c)-
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RP ALA 77-018
3 March 1977
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06627908