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2020 presidential candidates on South and Central America

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Republican Party Donald Trump
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This page includes statements from the 2020 presidential candidates on South and Central America. These statements were compiled from each candidate's official campaign website, editorials, speeches, and interviews. Click the following links for policy statements about related issues: foreign policy, Russia, North Korea, and Middle East and North Africa.

The candidates featured on this page are the 2020 presidential nominees from the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, and Green parties.

Republican Party Donald Trump
Democratic Party Joe Biden
Green Party Howie Hawkins
Libertarian Party Jo Jorgensen

South and Central America

Republican candidates

Donald Trump

Donald Trump's campaign website says, "President Trump has imposed numerous sanctions on the Maduro dictatorship in Venezuela, targeting the regime itself, individuals, and entities supporting Maduro’s dictatorship. The new financial sanctions prohibit dealings in new Venezuelan debt and its corrupt oil company. The regime will no longer be able finance its debt using U.S. banks. The President kept his promise to roll back the Obama Administration's bad deal on Cuba that benefitted the Cuban regime at the expense of the Cuban people." [source, as of 2019-08-23]

Mark Sanford

Mark Sanford's campaign website does not include a position on South and Central America.

His website says about foreign policy, "I believe in Teddy Roosevelt's notion of speaking softly, but carrying a big stick. To do this, we must maintain a strong economy, because economic supremacy has always been the precursor to military supremacy. Among other things, this once again ties back to our own debt as a threat to our ability to protect power and maintain our place in the world." [source, as of 2019-09-10]

Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh's campaign website does not include a statement outlining his position on Central and South America. [source, as of 2019-08-26]

Bill Weld

Bill Weld's campaign website does not include a statement about South and Central America.

He said in a speech about foreign policy, "I would include issues like free trade and a robust engagement in foreign policy and robust use of soft power and diplomacy. Mr. Trump doesn’t do any of that because he thinks he’s the only person that knows anything. He has no use for soft power or diplomacy or, indeed, planning ahead. He likes to have a summit on no notice and with no preparation. There’s a reason why over the years, people thought that successful diplomacy required careful preparation and debriefing of the people who are going to conduct the negotiation." [source, as of 2019-02-15]

Democratic candidates

Joe Biden

Joe Biden's presidential campaign website says, "Biden will launch a top-to-bottom review of our funding to Central America to determine how we can build on a successful initiative from the Obama-Biden administration that secured concrete commitments from the leaders of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras to take on the corruption, violence, and endemic poverty that drive migration." [source, as of 2019-08-20]

Michael Bloomberg

Mike Bloomberg's campaign website does not include a statement on South and Central America.

Bloomberg's website says of foreign policy, "Mike has built global coalitions of mayors to share strategies and spread proven solutions to cities around the world. As a philanthropist, he has deepened these efforts, working with local leaders and heads of state to implement ambitious agendas that cover everything from public health to climate change. As president, Mike will restore global respect to the White House. Under the Bloomberg administration, the world will know it can work in good faith with the United States, because it has already seen and experienced Mike’s leadership firsthand." [source, as of 2019-12-11]

Cory Booker

In a response to a questionnaire sent by the Council on Foreign Relations, Booker said, "Nicolas Maduro lacks the legitimacy to govern, and I have publicly stated that he should step down for the good of his people. However, we cannot simply anoint a new Venezuelan government -- that would be repeating the mistakes of our dark history in the region."

Booker continued, "I support imposing sanctions on Maduro and his top officials for corruption and human rights violations committed against their own people. We should also engage closely with our partners in the region to pursue a diplomatic, negotiated settlement, including by working with a transitional government in Venezuela that can lead to peaceful elections and a return to democratic norms and stability." [source, as of 2019-07-30]

Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg's campaign website says, "In Latin America ... universal values that we support as Americans are at stake. Casual references to throwing U.S. troops at situations like the crisis in Venezuela will not help. But engagement will. That means adding, not subtracting, to USAID efforts in Central America, so that we can better address the crime, corruption, and poverty that contributes to mass migration in the first place. And it means working closely with Mexico, one of our largest trading partners, knowing how much we have to gain when Mexico is more prosperous and stable. And yes, it means isolating dictatorship and encouraging democracy working in concert with our Latin American neighbors." [source, as of 2019-08-21]

Julián Castro

Julián Castro's campaign website calls for "Establishing a 21st Century 'Marshall Plan' for Central America."

Some of the policies listed on Castro's website include: "Prioritize high-level diplomacy with our neighbors in Latin America. Ensure higher standards of governance, transparency, rule-of-law, and anti-corruption practice as the heart of U.S. engagement with Central America, rejecting the idea that regional stability requires overlooking authoritarian actions. Enlist all actors in Central America to be part of the solution by restoring U.S. credibility on corruption and transparency and encouraging private sector, civil society, and local governments to work together rather than at cross purposes.Bolster economic development, superior labor rights, and environmentally sustainable jobs, allowing individuals to build a life in their communities rather than make a dangerous journey leaving their homes." [source, as of 2019-08-29]

Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard tweeted, "The root cause of mass immigration on our southern border is our history of US military intervention in Latin America that left countries destroyed. Before we talk about a wall, we need to end our ongoing threats of intervention - this time in Venezuela." [source, as of 2019-02-22]

Kamala D. Harris

Kamala Harris' campaign website says, "Kamala believes America is stronger when we invest in our critical relationships and alliances – from NATO, to key partners like Japan, India, Mexico, and Korea. Whether it’s the nuclear threat of North Korea and Iran, chaos and oppression in Venezuela, or confronting China’s unfair trade practices, the U.S. is most effective at confronting global challenges when we work in lockstep with our partners. She understands that for many immigrant families, leaving home and arriving at our Southern border is not a choice. That’s why she will ensure those fleeing persecution have a full and fair opportunity to make their claim, aggressively pursue a foreign policy focused on stabilizing Central America where conditions have forced families to flee, and increase funding for processing centers and child welfare workers." [source, as of 2019-08-20]

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar's campaign published a plan for her first 100 days in office which says, "Senator Klobuchar will end all Administration discussions to cut off direct assistance funding for Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, recognizing that the cuts present a serious risk to our national security and undermine efforts to address the underlying conditions driving migration to the United States." and "Fifty years of an embargo have not achieved America’s policy objectives in Cuba. Senator Klobuchar believes that a better path forward would allow Americans the freedom to travel and conduct business there and that lifting the trade embargo will open a huge export market, create American jobs, and support both the Cuban and American economies. She will revive policies to expand the ability of Americans to travel to Cuba and facilitate U.S. exports to the island using credit to the maximum extent allowed by current law while respecting human rights and property claims against the Cuban government." [source, as of 2019-06-18]

Beto O'Rourke

Beto O'Rourke's campaign website says, "Beto believes the Trump Administration’s treatment of Central America is one of our greatest foreign policy failures." O'Rourke's website proposes the following: "Ensure we are investing in the region to address poverty, corruption, and violence. Support those dealing with the effects of climate change. Work with partners to build peace and prosperity." [source, as of 2019-08-27]

Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders said in response to a Council on Foreign Relations questionnaire, "My administration would support the negotiations between the Maduro government and the opposition, and work with other countries in our region, and the international community, to support the Venezuelan people’s right to build their own future. The United States should support the rule of law, fair elections and self-determination in Venezuela, as we should elsewhere. We would condemn the use of violence against unarmed protesters and the suppression of dissent. We would also listen to the voices of Venezuelan activists themselves who warn against broad sanctions, such as the Trump administration’s oil sanctions, that mainly punish the people, not the government. My administration would not be in the business of regime change. The United States has a long history of inappropriately intervening in Latin American countries; we must not go down that road again."

Sanders also said during a speech that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro led an authoritarian regime. [source, as of 2019-09-30]

Thomas Steyer

Tom Steyer's campaign website does not include a position on South and Central America.

His website says about international agreements in the context of climate change, "Join the international Powering Past Coal Alliance, work to end global finance for coal-fired power plants, and strengthen and improve accountability procedures for enforcing human rights and environmental requirements for projects that receive funding through the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other international finance mechanisms. Lead a global plan to help prevent, address, and reduce climate-related disasters, including supporting pre-disaster resilience planning and investment, and helping protect the human rights of the growing number of people displaced by these disasters domestically and globally." [source, as of 2019-09-10]

Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren wrote in a plan published online that she would "restore and increase aid" to Central American countries, "Step up efforts to address transnational crime," and "Inform and protect those seeking refuge."

Warren wrote, "As president, I will: Restore and increase aid. I’ll commit at least $1.5 billion annually in aid to fully fund programs that target crime, disrupt trafficking, address poverty, reduce sexual violence, and enhance programs for at-risk youth in Central America and throughout our hemisphere — and I’ll rally the international community to match those funds. Step up efforts to address transnational crime. A Warren administration will expand efforts to reduce corruption and improve the rule of law, investigate and prosecute human trafficking, employ targeted financial sanctions against drug kingpins and money launderers, and provide robust funding for efforts to counter gangs. Inform and protect those seeking refuge. My administration will provide information about the right to seek asylum, reinstate the Central American Minors program, and coordinate with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to help resettle children and families who need protection. We’ll also do more to spread awareness about the dangers of attempting migration across borders to help prevent vulnerable people from being exploited along the way." [source, as of 2019-07-11]

Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang tweeted, "Venezuela is on the verge of becoming a failed state. Sanctions - which would hurt the people - aren’t helpful nor is talk of military intervention. The goal should be free and fair elections and Venezuelan self-determination. The US should not be in the business of regime change." [source, as of 2019-02-01]

Green candidates

Howie Hawkins

Howie Hawkins' campaign website says, "Open borders will benefit the US and Latin American economies and will uphold the basic human right of freedom of movement. The campaign also opposes ongoing regime change operations by the United States in Latin America, as well as trade policies designed for corporate profits rather than the benefit of the working people of across borders. These imperialist intervention and corporate-managed trade policies are root causes of desperate mass migration." [source, as of 2019-07-08]

Libertarian candidates

Jo Jorgensen

Jo Jorgensen says on her campaign website that she supports lifting the trade and travel embargo on Cuba. She opposes constructing a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. [source, as of 2020-07-28]


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