ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that US security interests in Central America can indeed be protected by a verifiable Contadora treaty. The Contadora process is viewed as an innovative attempt to establish a confidence-building regime in Central America with provisions for effective verification, and consequently the treaty safeguards the security interests not only of the Central American and neighboring nations, but of the United States as well. Confidence-building approaches are an attempt to counter the dangerous features of a competitive international environment in which potential adversaries mistrust each other and their intentions, and have inadequate information about their capabilities. The chapter proposes that the Contadora efforts be envisioned essentially as a confidence-building process in its broadest sense and be employed as such in the search for a reduction in tensions and a peaceful resolution of Central American conflicts. The Contadora process has evolved considerably since the first meeting in early 1983.
