The Soviet Union in South America: Accent on Argentina, Brazil, and Peru

Abstract

A growing web of shared interests between the Soviet Union and key South American countries stems from Moscow’s need to do business with industrial and commercial powers like Brazil and Argentina, as well as from Moscow’s desire to maintain links to Peru, where the Soviets have a modest military presence. Soviet strategy in South America is acquiring a political character, but the economic and commercial dimension is still paramount. The Soviet Union is not perceived as posing a major threat to any of these countries, and Argentina in particular may look to Moscow for political support in its continuing dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands. Each of these states follows a foreign policy that is relatively independent from Washington, a trend the Soviets encourage. Argentina, Brazil, and Peru capitalise on trends towards polycentrism in the international system, and each actor values the diversification of its foreign economic and political relations.