LatinNews Daily - 21 August 2017

Argentina/Chile: On 15-16 August, US Vice-President Mike Pence visited Argentina and Chile as part of his tour of Latin America, meeting Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri on 15 August and Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet on 16 August, giving joint press conferences with both leaders. The Latin American presidents spoke positively about developing economic relations with the US, as President Macri discussed the importance of foreign investment to the improvement of living conditions in Argentina, and President Bachelet noted that Chile is the only Latin American country to participate in the US Visa Waiver Program, lifting restrictions on movement between the two countries. Vice-President Pence supported these ideas of economic co-operation, telling both presidents that “America first does not mean America alone”. He was also keen to discuss foreign policy matters, praising both Macri and Bachelet for signing the recent Lima Declaration criticising the Venezuelan government, and calling on Chile to break all ties with North Korea. However, both Latin American leaders also emphasised the need for a peaceful and diplomatic approach to the Venezuela crisis, after US President Donald Trump’s comments on 11 August about the possibility of military intervention. Pence’s tour of Latin America also saw him visit Colombia, where he discussed tackling the drug trade and improving labour standards, and Panama to see the outcome of recent expansion work on the Panama Canal.

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