Russia and Latin America at the dawn of the twenty-first century

Russia's relations with Latin America can be traced back to the nineteenth century. Today, in the post-Cold War era, the Russian Federation has pushed for a renewed presence in the region, as US influence diminishes, adding to an increasing multilateralism in the Americas. The rise of leftist governments has prompted Latin American governments to look for allies outside the Western Hemisphere. In light of this, Moscow is resorting to diplomacy, commerce and trade, investment as well as military sales in order to become an influential power. While Latin America may not be a cornerstone of Russian foreign policy, it certainly has become one of its pillars. © 2010 Board of Transatlantic Studies.