The Organization of American States has undergone many a costume change. For decades regarded as a tool of US foreign policy (funded 60 per cent by the US and headquartered in Washington), during the Cold War the OAS had an impeccable record for supporting the capitalist status quo in Latin America: while General Pinochet’s Chile was welcome, Cuba was barred for years. Fidel Castro referred to the organization as ‘the Yankee ministry of colonies’. With the advent of Latin America’s pink tide, the OAS was subject to greater ideological diversity. But times are changing again.
Enter Luis Almagro. At first glance he seems to have the credentials to even-handedly lead the always-problematic OAS. Despite coming from conservative roots in Uruguay, the lawyer and long-time diplomat served as foreign minister in the well-regarded Left-leaning government of José Mujica. But since scoring the secretary-general post, Almagro has taken the organization in a radical Right direction catering to the Trump administration and such extremist ideologues as Elliot Abrams and Marco Rubio.
