by Elena Chuquimarca
QUITO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Sociologist and international political analyst Decio Machado has warned of a shift in U.S. policy toward Latin America, marked by growing political, economic and military interference that could threaten regional sovereignty.
In a recent interview with Xinhua, Machado said the trend reflects a move away from isolated interventions toward a more systematic approach that combines political pressure, strategic economic agreements and military cooperation.
"We are seeing a 'modus operandi' repeated across countries to interfere in internal politics and electoral processes," he said.
Machado, a Spanish analyst based in Ecuador, cited Venezuela, Honduras, Ecuador and Argentina as examples of this pattern of external pressure. He also pointed to a growing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, including naval deployments, as a factor that could heighten tensions.
According to Machado, Washington is seeking to consolidate its sphere of influence in the Americas, which he attributes to a perceived decline in its global power.
"The United States no longer feels capable of managing the entire planet and is instead delimiting what geopolitics defines as its 'vital space,'" he said.
He added that this strategy aims to limit the presence of other powers in the region and reflects an updated interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine.
Machado also expressed concern over expanding U.S. military involvement in countries such as Mexico and Ecuador, particularly in anti-narcotics operations, which he thought could enable broader use of surveillance technologies.
"This represents a real risk to the sovereignty of Latin American countries," he added. ■