Obama’s Trip to Latin America Is Long Overdue

Sidetracked by the crippling economic crisis and two wars, President Obama is now making his first trip to Latin America. Talks about trade, economic development, energy security and jobs will top his agenda as he tries to boost U.S. influence in this increasingly more important region. Mauricio Cárdenas, director of the Latin America Initiative at Brookings, says that this is trip is long overdue. These countries are critically important partners for the U.S., he says, and it’s time to get on board with other actors like China and fully recognize this as the “Decade of Latin America.”