US Military Gains 'Access' to South America, Again
Another US military 'access' agreement, this time in South America, is framed by Newsweek as a strategic win for narcotics interdiction. What goes unmentioned is the pattern: these 'access' points rarely stay focused on drugs. From the Cold War's 'containment' to the 'War on Terror,' US military presence in Latin America has historically preceded, coincided with, or cleaned up after interventions,
coups, and destabilization efforts—all under the guise of security or 'shared interests.' Ecuador, like much of South America, has a rich history of resisting US military and economic dominance, often finding its 'friends' in Washington leading to internal strife, not stability. One might wonder if 'access' for the US merely means easier 'access' to influence local politics, destabilize
governments not aligned with Washington, or secure resource extraction deals. How many times will Latin American nations 'invite' the US military only to find their sovereignty eroded? It’s not 'access' when you're the one being leveraged; it's annexation by invitation.