ABSTRACT
During the latter half of the 1980s, Europe became a main supplier of foreign assistance to Latin America. Latin American interests in Europe are generally similar to European ones in Latin America. In the political realm, the presence of European governments, political parties, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Latin America has increased considerably during the last decade. These political actors—relatively new in the region—clearly do not form the "third option" or the alternative to the United States so ardently proclaimed by some European politicians and intellectuals. Old discrepancies between the United States and its European allies over Latin issues have decreased considerably. In the long term, an economically and politically stronger Europe will inevitably seek a more salient role in the developing region with which it has more historical and political affinities. The Atlantic triangle continues to be one dimension of European-Latin American relations, in a scheme that also includes Japan when economic enterprises are involved.
