Photo composition showing the flags of Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. Photo: Andrew Korybko's Newsletter.
By Andrew Korybko – Jul 29, 2022
For as different as Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico are, theyâre all united in the common cause of practicing principled neutrality towards the Ukrainian Conflict, which makes them Latin Americaâs multipolar leaders.
Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, which are Latin Americaâs leading countries, just reaffirmed their principled neutrality towards the Ukrainian Conflict by refusing to join the US in condemning Russiaâs ongoing special military operation there during the latest Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas. This diplomatic development isnât just symbolic but also politically substantive. It shows that the USâ hegemony is rapidly declining since it can no longer impose its will onto those major countries.
Latin America has always resisted its northern neighborâs aggressive attempts to force the region to kowtow to its demands, but with mixed success over the past two centuries. Now, however, its major countries are once again flexing their political independence since they feel emboldened by the USâ hegemonic decline that unprecedentedly accelerated since the start of the Ukrainian Conflict. Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico sense weakness and are taking full advantage of it to make a powerful point.
The optics of those three coming together to resist the USâ demands that they condemn Russia is hugely embarrassing for Washington. The Biden Administration has argued that standing in âsolidarityâ with its proxies in Kiev is the obligation of all so-called âcivilized and democratic countriesâ, yet three of the most important countries in the Western Hemisphere clearly disagree with that interpretation of the conflict. They believe that remaining neutral is the most moral and pragmatic option available.
Theyâre right, too, since this conflict halfway across the world isnât their business. Furthermore, they all enjoy close relations with Russia as well so thereâs no reason for them to unilaterally worsen these mutually beneficial ties simply to appease the US. To the contrary, their objective national interests are served by continuing to cultivate ties with Moscow, which ensures their energy and food security. They also stand to gain by showing the region that theyâre not afraid to stand up to the US.
Therein lies the most substantive point since Latin America is once again rising up to oppose their northern neighborâs hegemony. The global systemic transition to multipolarity is irreversible, and the historical moment is such that the entire world is taking maximum advantage of it to carve out their role in the emerging order. Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico arenât an exception and realized that now is the perfect time to reinforce their regional leadership.
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The US canât do anything about it no matter how badly it wishes that this didnât happen, which speaks to how weak itâs become in recent months. It presumably tried to influence their decisions ahead of time but spectacularly failed, hence why everything just unfolded as it did. While the US successfully reasserted its declining hegemony over Europe throughout the course of the Ukrainian Conflict, it lost its hegemony over Latin America in the process.
The top three countries in its proverbial âbackyardâ sent it the message that they wonât be pushed around any longer. Theyâre proud to stand up to the hemispheric hegemon to make a powerful political point thatâs also intended to inspire the regional masses to continue resisting the US. For as different as Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico are, theyâre all united in the common cause of practicing principled neutrality towards the Ukrainian Conflict, which makes them Latin Americaâs multipolar leaders.
Andrew Korybko
Andrew Korybko is an American Moscow-based political analyst specializing in the relationship between the US strategy in Afro-Eurasia, Chinaâs One Belt One Road global vision of New Silk Road connectivity, and Hybrid Warfare. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research.
