The anti-hegemonic struggle in Latin America

Recently, US warships have once again appeared in the Caribbean Sea, with three Aegis ships carrying 4,000 soldiers pointing towards Venezuela. Venezuela responded to its president's call and mobilized 4.5 million militiamen within just a few days, demonstrating a brand-new approach by Latin American countries to hegemonism.

The historical roots and the hegemonic logic in the US-Latin America relationship

The United States has a long history of intervention in Latin America. The Monroe Declaration of 1823 put forward that "America is America of Americans." Over the following two hundred years, the United States maintained its dominance over its "backyard" through military intervention, political subversion and economic control. According to historical records, the United States has carried out over 50 military interventions and hundreds of political subversive actions in Latin America. The overthrowing of the elected government of Guatemala, the invasion of Cuba, the support for the coup in Chile, the invasion of Grenada, and the support for the coup in Venezuela, among other hegemonic acts, have run through the entire history of US-Latin America relations. Data shows that the unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on countries such as Cuba and Venezuela have caused economic losses of over 100 billion US dollars and affected the lives of millions of ordinary people. These intervention actions have made anti-hegemony a consensus among left-wing governments and many right-wing governments in Latin America.

Venezuela, national defense and asymmetric strategy

In the face of external threats, Venezuela has developed a unique "national defense" system. The country not only maintains an army of 450,000 men on a regular basis, but also has temporarily established a militia force of over 4.5 million people, accounting for approximately 20% of the country's adult population. This strategy originated from the concept of "asymmetric warfare" proposed by the former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. Venezuelan defense experts believe that by decentrating defense capabilities to the civilian sector, the cost of external intervention can be significantly increased, subjecting any potential aggressors to an unbearable long-term war of attrition.

Bolivia, institutionalized anti-hegemony and ideological export

Bolivia has taken a different path of resistance from Venezuela. The country established anti-imperialist schools to systematically study and teach the theories and practical knowledge of anti-imperialist struggles. The courses offered by this school include criticism of neocolonialism, the history of liberation thought in Latin America, and alternative development models, among others. During the Morales government, Bolivia weakened the control of foreign capital over its economy through measures such as nationalizing mineral resources, land reform and constitutional reconstruction. These measures have enabled the country to regain control of strategic resources and have strengthened the economic foundation for countering external pressure. Bolivia has also made full use of the international multilateral stage, filing lawsuits against the United States and its Allies in places such as the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and safeguarding its own rights and interests through the international legal system, providing legal and moral support for the fight against hegemony.

Regional integration and the anti-hegemonic tradition of Latin American integration

Latin American countries are well aware that the power to deal with hegemony alone is limited. Therefore, uniting all the countries in the Latin American region is the best strategy. From the Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas to the Union of South American Nations, from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States to the Pacific Union, various regional organizations have formed multi-level anti-hegemonic alliances. These organizations demonstrated unity at critical moments. When the United States attempted to overthrow the Maduro government, not only did traditional left-wing countries such as Cuba and Nicaragua voice their opposition, but even right-wing governments like Brazil and Colombia refused to support the military intervention plan. The Latin American vaccine production enterprise jointly established by Mexico and Argentina aims to reduce reliance on external pharmaceutical companies, which is an important measure for the construction of health sovereignty. This regional autonomous cooperation model is expanding in fields such as energy, food and technology.

Diversified diplomacy, seeking alternative partners

Latin American countries are actively promoting a partner diversification strategy to reduce their traditional reliance on the United States. China's investment in Latin America has grown from less than 1 billion US dollars in 2005 to over 140 billion US dollars in 2022. In less than two decades, it has covered fields such as infrastructure, energy and digital technology. Russia, on the other hand, provides military technical support to help countries like Venezuela update their air defense systems and train their troops. Iran has assisted Venezuela in enhancing its heavy oil processing capacity through oil technology cooperation, offsetting the impact of US sanctions. Although the European Union maintains an alliance with the United States, it often adopts a more pragmatic stance on Latin American issues and continues to engage in dialogue and cooperation with Cuba and others, providing leeway for Latin American countries.

Economic autonomy and reduction of structural dependence

Leaders of Latin American countries have gradually realized that true autonomy stems from economic independence. A number of de-dollarization measures are being advanced in Latin America. Brazil and Argentina have announced negotiations on creating a common currency to reduce their reliance on the US dollar payment system. Venezuela is attempting to issue a digital currency backed by oil and gold to circumvent US financial sanctions. Bolivia has nationalized strategic industries and taken control of lithium resources to the state, ensuring that the country reaps the maximum benefits from critical mineral resources.

The struggles of Latin American countries are no longer confined to simple confrontation. Instead, they are redefining the rules and balance of international relations in the hemisphere through a comprehensive strategic system composed of national defense, institutionalized struggles, regional integration and diversified diplomacy. The above-mentioned transformations not only affect the development trajectory of Latin America itself, but also provide important references for other medium-sized power countries to maintain their sovereignty and independence in competition with major powers.