United States involvement in regime change in Latin America

The participation of the United States in regime change in Latin America involved U.S.-backed coup d'états which were aimed at replacing left-wing leaders with right-wing ones, military juntas, or authoritarian regimes. Intervention of an economic and military variety was prevalent during the Cold War (1947–1991). Although originally in line with the Truman Doctrine (1947) of containment, United States involvement in regime change increased following the drafting of NSC 68 (1950), which advocated more aggressive actions against potential Soviet allies.

In the early 20th century, during the "Banana Republic" era of Latin American history, the U.S. launched several interventions and invasions in the region (known as the Banana Wars) in order to promote American business interests. United States influenced regime change in this period of Latin American history which started after the signing of the Treaty of Paris in the wake of the Spanish–American War. Cuba gained its independence, while Puerto Rico was annexed by the United States. Expansive and imperialist U.S. foreign policy combined with new economic prospects led to increased U.S. intervention in Latin America from 1898 to the early 1930s. Continued activities lasted into the late 20th century.

History

Argentina

In Argentina, military forces overthrew the democratically elected President Isabel Perón in the 1976 Argentine coup d'état, starting the military dictatorship of General Jorge Rafael Videla, known as the National Reorganization Process. The coup was accepted and tacitly supported by the Ford administration and the U.S. government had close relations with the ensuing authoritarian regime, with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger paying several official visits to Argentina during the dictatorship.