Bush heading to L. America to spread influence

U.S. President George W. Bush seeks to improve U.S. influence in the region with his upcoming tour of Latin America.

Bush is scheduled to visit Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico from Thursday to next Wednesday, his first foreign trip of the year and the longest ever to the region.

The trip comes as Washington is adjusting its policy towards the region after Bush has been come under increasing criticism by the Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress, said analyst Andres Oppenheimer.

The Democrats said Bush has "lost" Latin America and just focused on his failed "War on Terror," which has consequently put anti-U.S. voices such as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on the rise.

In 2006, 12 elections were held in the region and a broad range of leftist came to power including some who openly challenged Washington's policy.

The White House said earlier that Bush's trip aims to underline the U.S. government's commitment to the region and advance "democracy."

But Bush's true aim is to regain U.S. influence in the region. In his speech to a Hispanic group on Monday, just three days before his tour, he announced new plans to give more aid to the region.

He said he wanted people there to understand that "you have a friend in the United States of America, (and) we care about your plight."

ETHANOL ISSUE IN BRAZIL

It is no coincidence that Brazil will be the first stop on Bush's trip given the country's significant influence in the region, in both terms of economy and politics.

The Brazilian media said that Bush and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will discuss how to increase biofuel production.

Brazil and the United States contribute some 70 percent of production in world's ethanol market, and Washington is considering the feasibility of establishing, along with Brazil, an organization which groups exporting countries of alternative fuel, a body similar to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

For many years, Brazil has been trying hard to promote its export of products related to alternative fuels, including cars using ethanol or natural gas, but these plans have been obstructed by high U.S. trade tariffs.

If Washington wants to promote biofuel production with Brazil, it may have to abolish the 54 cents per gallon tariff it has levied on ethanol imports from Brazil, to persuade Lula to join U.S. efforts.

FREE TRADE WITH URUGUAY

In Uruguay, President Tabare Vazquez will want to talk about increasing trade. But although the left-wing government seems very interested in a closer trade agreement with Washington, the fact that labor unions have rejected the will dampen the prospect for a deal.

The unions are planning protests during Bush's visit.

REITERATION OF SUPPORT FOR COLOMBIA

In Colombia, Washington's main ally in South America, Bush's visit is seen as opportune for President Alvaro Uribe, who is worried about the suspended ratification of a Colombia-U.S. free trade agreement by the U.S. Congress.

Bush is expected to reiterate Washington's support for Colombia's fight against drug trafficking and anti-government groups.

IMMIGRATION AGENDA IN GUATEMALA, MEXICO

Immigration will dominate Bush's agenda in Guatemala and Mexico. Both countries want Washington to revise its immigration policy to legalize their citizens in the United States.

The United States has repeatedly described Mexico as its most important Latin American ally but is building heavily-watched fences on the U.S.- Mexico border, an action that has aroused strong opposition from Mexico.

Bush will try to ease anti-U.S. voices in Mexico by stressing other issues such as joint anti-drug efforts, boosting U.S. investment in Mexico and bilateral agricultural trade, said local daily Reforma.

But as long as the U.S. maintains its focus on the "War on Terror" which has alienated the Latin America, it should lower its expectations for Bush's visit.

Source: Xinhua