US Southern Command Area of Responsibility

Area of Responsibility Religion Economic Systems Political Systems US InterestsOverview

Geography – 1/6th of the world’s surface – Land mass south of Mexico, waters adjacent to Central and South America, the Caribbean Sea, portion of the Atlantic Ocean – 31 countries and 15 areas of special sovereignty Area of Responsibility Majority of population lives within 100 miles of the ocean Large cities grossly overpopulated

Roman Catholicism dominant – Brought by colonialism and forced conversion beginning in 1500s – Dominant religion for 90% or more of population – Number actively practicing and professing faith are often different Roman Catholicism mixed with indigenous or imported religionsReligion

Dominant religions in non-Spanish colonies (British, French, Dutch) fall in line with historic colonial influence Evangelical Christianity surging throughout area in recent decades Hindu, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism on rise due to recent political and economic changesReligion

Long term problems due to end of colonialism Foreign debt and worldwide recessions Free trade agreements in later twentieth and early twenty-first century have provided major stimulus to economies Strong economic ties between region and United States: 23% of petroleum imports into United States are from this region; exceeding imports from Persian Gulf Economic Systems

Poverty – 34% live in poverty; 13% in extreme poverty – High economic growth = increased demand for exports = improvements in poverty around region – Massive income disparity; one of most unequal regions in the world Wealthiest 20% possesses 19 times the wealth of the poorest 20% Economic Systems

Poverty – Contributing factors to high poverty rate include: Rural underdevelopment Government failures/political instability Widespread corruption Lack of infrastructure Ethnic discrimination – Impoverished citizens are easy prey for illicit traffickers, terrorist organizations, and political demagogues Economic Systems

Crime – One of world’s most violent areas Claims more than 100,000 lives/year Murder one of 5 main causes of death in several countries – 15% of region’s combined annual GDP – Typically centers around drug trade More than 530 metric tons of cocaine smuggled annually into United States from South America Central America becoming new hotbed for activity as neighboring nations crack down Economic Systems

Crime – Criminal groups take over regions where government control is absent – Criminals often collude with—or are actually part of—local law enforcement – Illicit trafficking costs legitimate economies more than $245 billion annually $32 billion human trafficking $10 billion illegal arms trafficking $80 billion exotic wildlife trafficking Economic Systems

Crime – Colombia Drug trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping are major sources of funding for guerrilla groups and right-wing paramilitary Efforts to dismantle major operations fractured groups into smaller, autonomous organizations – High crime rate comes from rapid urbanization w/out infrastructure, income inequality, culture of violence, lack of opportunity for youth, corruption Economic Systems

History of democracy across area since end of colonialism in nineteenth century Elections fair in most countries However, citizens’ freedoms restricted in many nations Freedom in the World Survey of Latin American countries: – 21 = free – 9 = partly free – 1 = not free Political Systems

Democracy is challenged by a number of issues: – Economics – Weak administrative capacity – Anti-democratic opposition – Drug trafficking – Guerrilla movements Problems are causing many to lose faith in democracy and support authoritarian rule Political Systems

Commerce and Trade – Fastest growing trade market for the US – Two-thirds of ships transiting Panama Canal are going to or coming from US ports, 16% of US trade – 17.8% of total US foreign investment worldwide – 10 of 19 US free trade agreements are with Central and South American countries US Interests

Commerce and Trade – Total US foreign direct investment equals US direct investment in Asia, Middle East, and Africa combined – Commerce Department and WTO estimate 2011 trade exceed trade w/Europe and Japan US Interests

National Security – Conventional threats are low; non-traditional challenges threaten region – Illicit trafficking, transnational terrorism, crime, gangs, potential spread of WMD are principal security challenges – Influence from Iran, China, and Russia Counterdrug and Narcoterrorism – 95.5% of cocaine entering United States originates in Colombia US Interests

Counterdrug and Narcoterrorism – 60% of cocaine shipped from South America in 2009 was headed to United States – As drugs flow into United States, money, arms, and technology flow back to region – Counterdrug operations include detection, monitoring, tracking, and interdiction of drug runners US Interests

Theater Security Cooperation – Asymmetic threats require shift in security efforts – Coalitions and regional partnerships provide underlying conditions for success US Interests

Area of Responsibility Religion Economic Systems Political Systems US InterestsSummary