Human Rights: The Universal Justication in Latin American International Relations

Actions regarding Latin American-US Relationships, whether by a Latin American actor or by the United States, are often justified in human rights terms. An article in the new york times, U.S. to Lift Ban on Military Aid to Guatemala , illustrates this point. This article discusses two actions -- the downsizing of the military by Guatemalan president Óscar Berger and the U.S.'s decision to lift ban on military aid to Guatemala. The Guatemalan president has cut the military's troop strength by close to half, to 15,000 soldiers from 27,000 in the wake on massive human rights violations committed by the Guatemalan military. This action has been applauded as a step forward for human rights. The United States has decided to reward the improvement in the human rights situation with American arms. U.S Defense Secretary Rusfeld said, "I've been impressed by the reforms that have been undertaken." Thus, the rhetoric of human rights is loud and bilateral in US-Latin American International Relationships.