Nowadays, Latin America is not quite as poor as in
previous decades, but is certainly more violent and unstable. The region
faces less traditional security threats such as drug trafficking, urban
violence and political polarisation. These require new international
responses that differ from the European Union’s development angle and
the military/legal route followed by the Unites States. As a key donor,
the EU has contributed to the reduction of poverty in Latin America, but
this hasn’t had a corresponding effect on reducing security problems.
The simultaneous increase in violence and the decrease in poverty in
Latin America casts doubt on the existence of a direct relationship
between development and security; a relationship suggested by EU policy.
Those Latin American countries which have received the most European
aid – Central American and Andean countries – remain the most unstable.
Seemingly, reducing poverty and inequality levels does not lead to a
decrease in violent crime.
Therefore, it is necessary to review the EU’s policy towards Latin
America. Although Europe cannot and does not want to put itself on the
same level of involvement as the US, it can help to develop a new method
of reducing levels of violence in the region. It can also have a more
significant presence and individual profile in the debates and policies
surrounding security in the Americas.
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