South America MIDN 1/C Barrier MIDN 1/C Gentry

Territories and Divisions Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Falkland islands (UK) French Guiana (France) Guyana Paraguay Peru South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Suriname Uruguay Venezuela

Regional Overview ► Cold War battlefield in 20 th century ► 10.8% unemployment rate (2002) ► Internal conflicts ► Wave of democratization in 1990s ► International indebtedness ► Extremely high interest rates ► Huge class gap ► Roman Catholicism dominant religion ► Languages – Spanish and Portuguese(51%)

Areas of Interest / “Hot spots” ► Colombia ► Argentina ► Venezuela

Colombia

Country History

In the numbers ► Population - 39,685,655 (as of 7/2001) ► Land area - 1,038,700 sq. km ► Coastline - 3,208 km ► Language – Spanish ► Currency – Colombian peso – 100 centavos ► Religions – 90% Roman Catholic, 10% other ► Ethnic divisions – Mestizo 58%, European descent 20%, Mulatto 14%, African descent/ African-indigenous 7%, indigenous 1%

Military Capability ► Army – ► Navy – ► Air Force –

Why we care…

Argentina

Argentinean Information ► Capital: Buenos Aires ► Official Language: Spanish ► Government: Democratic Federal Republic  President: Nestor Kirchner ► Area: 2,791,810 km 2 ► Population: 39,538,000 ► Religion: 80% Roman Catholic ► GDP: US$ 484,232 million ► Currency: Peso

Current Events ► In 1991 Argentina pegged its peso to the American dollar to slow inflation. With the recession in 2001, Argentina’s economic system collapsed. In 2002 Argentina defaulted on its debts, causing a sharp increase in inflation. ► With new economic policies started in 2003, Argentina’s GDP has gradually risen. However there are still large numbers of unemployed people.

Venezuela

Venezuelan Information ► Capital: Caracas ► Official Language: Spanish ► Government: Federal Republic  President: Hugo Chavez Frias ► Area: 916,445 km 2 ► Population: 25,375,281 ► Religion: 96% Roman Catholic ► GDP: $153,331 million ► Currency: Venezuelan bolivar

Current Events ► Up until 2001 the US Military occupied a small building of the Fuerte Tiuna military base. In August 2001 the Venezuelan government announced the mission would be shut down. Outside sources suggest this action is by President Chavez to distance his generals from American troops. ► In 2005 the United States openly criticized the agreement between Venezuela and Spain, in which Venezuela will buy military equipment. The military equipment contains 12 naval transport and reconnaissance aircraft and eight naval patrol vessels. The United States has threatened to block the deal worth $1.5 billion dollars, since the Spanish exports require an export license from the United States.

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