Interview: Next U.S. gov't not to improve relations with Latin America, warns Argentine scholar

No matter who wins the presidential election slated for Nov. 8, the next U.S government will not improve relations with Latin America, an Argentine scholar on international relations has warned.

In an interview with Xinhua, Leandro Morgenfeld, professor of the University of Buenos Aires, said that neither Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton would change the strategy of attacking a country that does not obey the orders of Washington. Both will try to encourage regional fragmentation and prevent the emergence of a more multipolar world.

"Trump has provoked a large wave of rejection during his xenophobic and anti-Latino rhetoric. Clinton would bring more continuity with Obama despite a more aggressive approach toward governments that do not submit to the orders of Washington."

According to Morgenfeld, Clinton said during her campaign that she opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), but she actually pushed for the negotiations when she was the secretary of state.

"She will seek the ratification of TPP by Congress, if Obama does not do so before leaving, which will cause resistance from the region," he said.

The scholar labelled the U.S. attitude toward Latin America as "a paternalistic vision."

Morgenfeld said he expects countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua to maintain their distant relationships with Washington.

"Trump and Clinton would have a more aggressive approach to Bolivarian countries than Obama. They will try to use the economic crisis in the region to flip the government of President Nicolas Maduro and isolate anyone seeking not to be subordinate to the U.S.," he warned.

Regional fragmentation "weakens the position of each country and deepens dependency. I have no hope that Clinton or Trump government will improve relations with Latin America," he said. Endi