United States: Foreign Relations

As the dominant economic and military power in the Western Hemisphere, the United States maintains an extensive network of diplomatic, security, and trade relationships across the Americas, rooted in a regional leadership tradition dating to the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine and formalized through its founding role in the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1948. As of 2026, under the administration of President Donald Trump, who began his second term in January 2025, Western Hemisphere affairs have been elevated as a leading foreign policy priority, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizing regional security as a foundation for hemispheric prosperity.

Economically, the United States remains anchored to the region through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), its largest regional trade framework, while as of 2026 the Trump administration has also imposed new tariffs on several Latin American economies, including a 50 percent tariff on Brazil and a 25 percent tariff on Mexico, alongside measures targeting countries that import Venezuelan oil. These policies coincide with growing Chinese investment across the region, including port and infrastructure projects in Peru and elsewhere, which U.S. officials have characterized as a strategic competitive challenge.

On security and diplomacy, the United States continues to use the OAS as its principal multilateral forum in the hemisphere, pressing the organization to address the political crisis in Venezuela and instability in Haiti. As of 2026, Washington has intensified pressure on Venezuela's government, including sanctions and interdictions of oil shipments, while expanding security and counternarcotics cooperation with partners such as Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico, and deepening engagement with Caribbean nations through CARICOM-focused initiatives.