President Donald Trump's plans for the Western Hemisphere aren't based on aggression, but on bringing change to places like Cuba and the Panama Canal, according to Mauricio Claver-Carone, the president's special envoy for Latin America.
"This is a non-imperialistic expansionism," Claver-Carone said in an extensive interview reported by Politico Wednesday, during which he spoke of sending in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work on an "obsolete" Panama Canal, and the administration's plans to get "very creative" on Cuba.
"What we're seeing is an effort to ensure the 21st century is also an American century," Claver-Carone said. "I look at it now as really the golden age of America and the golden age of the Americas.
The envoy served during Trump's first administration as well, in the Treasury Department and the National Security Council.
And he said that in the past decade or so, people were saying the 21st century would belong to the Chinese, but the experts were "again wrong."
Sovereign lending allowed countries such as Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, and particularly Venezuela falling into China's "debt trap," but no country wants that to happen anymore, Claver-Carone said.
And that has left a trail of "distressed assets" that has created a "great opportunity now for American investors," he added.
"We're really looking at how the investment and expansionism of America economically can benefit not only the United States but will benefit all of the Americas," said the envoy.
He added that he does not think the Trump administration is being tough on allies like Panama, Colombia, and Mexico, but expects them to live up to their own responsibilities.
But now, the rhetoric coming from President Jose Raul Mulino in Panama over the canal is "unfortunate."
"We have a treaty and we've respected that treaty," said Claver-Carone. "The United States feels that Panama has violated that treaty from a security perspective."
The canal, he added, is becoming "obsolete" because of the canal Authority's inefficiency in maintaining it.
"Now, they ask us for help but they want to charge us for help," he said. "They want the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. to help in actually making the Panama Canal great again, which is what President Trump wants. But yet they want to charge us for it."
The United States is responsible for 75% of the traffic through the canal, and there is "no Panama Canal" without U.S. commerce, the envoy said.
"An efficient, effective Panama Canal benefits Panama first and foremost," said Claver-Carone. "But they get caught in this nationalistic fervor that blinds them from common sense and solutions."
Meanwhile, when it comes to Cuba, Claver-Carone said the island nation is "at the weakest point that we've ever seen."
"The desire for change of the Cuban people is overwhelming," he said. "Even its leadership structure knows that change is inevitable."
And that would be democratic change, as "the Cuban model is obviously dead."
"It's an interesting time in Cuba where a transition is not only inevitable but frankly is probably imminent," said Claver-Carone.
"I think we can be very creative, and I'll leave it at that," he added. "I think it's rife with opportunities and creativity."
Claver-Carone also discussed the issues going on with Venezuela, and he said that he believes President Nicholas Maduro knows what the United States is willing and able to do under him.
Special Envoy Ric Grenell has been in discussions with Venezuela leaders about releasing American hostages and the deportation of Venezuelan criminal gang members.
"There's a sensitive discussion taking place that is in the national interest of the United States," said Claver-Carone, stressing not to confuse "discussion with deal."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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