ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the major US concerns about Russia’s return to the Western Hemisphere. The United States considers the Western Hemisphere a shared neighborhood, with a shared history, values, respect for the democratic way of life, and a great degree of interconnectivity. For these reasons, it does matter to Washington what is happening in Latin America and the Caribbean. Moreover, this region developed multifaceted links to the United States via migration, commercial flows, and political interactions. In this context, Russia’s presence in the area and support for Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua may constitute important challenges to the United States. In this context, this chapter offers an opportunity to learn the US perspective on Russia’s commercial and military activities in the region and identifies several factors that play in favor or against the growth of the Russian incidence in Latin America and the Caribbean.
