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President Biden relinquished the Democratic nomination on July 21 amid ongoing concerns about his age and ability to win November’s election. Speaking to the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, he framed his decision to step aside from the 2024 presidential race as a matter of saving democracy. “I revere this office. But I love my country more,” the president said. In his stead, Vice President Kamala Harris has become the presumptive nominee, with endorsements from most elected and influential Democratic figures. Donors have likewise backed the new candidate, who has amassed a staggering $250 million war chest since Biden stepped out of the campaign last weekend.
Many in the country and around the world are predicting how a Harris administration might differ from a Biden administration, especially on politically critical issues like immigration, environmentalism, and the rule of law. Fortunately, her time in the U.S. Senate and as vice president has given some clues as to how her priorities may shape future U.S. policy in these important areas.
This explainer examines Harris’ record on foreign policy, focusing on how her priorities will impact U.S. relations with Latin America and shape national policy on the Western Hemisphere’s most pressing issues.
How would a Harris administration’s foreign policy, with its emphasis on worker protection and environmental concerns over free trade, differ from the current administration, and what could that mean for U.S. international partnerships and priorities?
A Harris administration’s foreign policy would prioritize worker protection and environmental concerns over free trade, diverging from the current administration’s approach. As vice president, Kamala Harris has supported President Biden’s international economic policies, which emphasize government-led investments in the developing world rather than traditional trade negotiations. She has focused on addressing the root causes of illegal migration from Latin America and strengthening U.S. relationships with Central America and Mexico. This approach has already generated $5.2 billion in investments through the Central America Forward (CAF) initiative to tackle migration issues in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
If elected president, Harris is likely to continue Biden’s agenda despite her previous anti-protectionist rhetoric. Her past criticism of tariffs and opposition to trade deals like the USMCA and Trans-Pacific Partnership suggest she would incorporate broader environmental considerations into future negotiations. Her progressive climate record, including co-sponsoring the Green New Deal and supporting a ban on fracking, indicates a strong focus on environmental sustainability.
Harris’ climate focus might jumpstart stalled initiatives like the Green Steel Deal with the European Union, but any agreements will prioritize protections for American workers. This approach would ensure that U.S. international partnerships and priorities are aligned with environmental goals and worker protections, potentially leading to more sustainable and equitable global economic policies.
What specific changes can we expect in U.S. policy towards Latin America under Harris, especially in terms of addressing authoritarian regimes and supporting democratic movements in the region?
Under a Harris administration, we should not expect a rush to begin negotiations for new free trade agreements (FTAs) with countries in Latin America. Instead, we should see a continuation of the Biden administration’s policies aimed at investments to address the root causes of illegal migration and improve regional stability, productivity, and the region’s energy transition. Additionally, Harris will likely focus on supporting democracy and human rights, and addressing humanitarian issues in the region, as evidenced by her support for legislation promoting human rights in Hong Kong and co-sponsoring legislation denouncing and punishing China for its oppression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Furthermore, she has been among the administration’s leading advocates for a cease-fire in Gaza, seeking to limit civilian casualties and improve the humanitarian crisis there.
Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba appear likely to be major tests for a Harris presidency, especially if she promotes a more progressive human-rights-centered foreign policy. We could expect Harris to continue tough rhetoric against these regimes and to work multilaterally with other powers in the region to promote democratic change. However, we are unlikely to see threats of U.S. military force or increased sanctions that might worsen humanitarian situations, as doing so would violate her progressive ideals. Instead, Harris could use her progressive credentials to build more collaborative relationships with moderate left-wing governments in the region, such as the Lula administration in Brazil and the Boric administration in Chile, with the goal of placing greater pressure on authoritarian and non-democratic regimes.
This approach would enhance U.S. policy towards Latin America by focusing on investment, regional stability, and human rights, fostering a more supportive environment for democratic movements and addressing authoritarian regimes through multilateral cooperation and progressive diplomacy.
Given Harris’s recent focus on conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and her mixed engagement addressing immigration from Central America, how might her approach to the region evolve as president, and what implications could this have for U.S. relations with Latin American countries?
During her tenure as vice president, Kamala Harris’s foreign policy towards Europe and the Middle East has demonstrated a strong commitment to traditional alliances and emerging humanitarian concerns. She has been a staunch advocate for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, emphasizing NATO’s significance and pledging continued U.S. support. In the Middle East, her evolving position has shown a balanced approach, seeking to support Israel while addressing humanitarian concerns for Palestinian civilians.
Criticisms of Harris’s engagement with Central America often misinterpret her actual task. President Biden tapped Harris in March 2021 to lead a narrowly focused diplomatic effort to curb migration from the Northern Triangle countries—Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador—by addressing the root causes of migration and enhancing border security in other countries through which migrants travel. She was never tasked with managing U.S. border security, which falls under Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. He noted in June 2021 that Harris is “leading our nation’s efforts to address the root causes—that fundamental question of why people leave their homes,” while he is “addressing the security and management of our border.”
Addressing the root causes of migration is a long-term strategy that naturally takes longer to bear fruit than more immediate efforts to stop migrants at the border. Despite this, Harris has made significant strides, particularly through securing private sector investment to improve the region’s economy. The White House reported in March that these efforts had created 250,000 jobs, with Honduran Minister of Investment Miguel Medina highlighting the unique success of this initiative due to U.S. involvement. Immigration levels from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador have decreased since Harris took on this role, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection data showing a drop from approximately 700,000 encounters in 2021 to 500,000 in 2023.
If elected president, Harris’s approach to Latin America could bring significant positive changes. Her administration is expected to focus on deeper, more direct involvement with regional leaders, leveraging her progressive background to build strong relationships with leftist governments in Mexico, Honduras, and Colombia. Harris’s administration would likely continue the Biden administration’s emphasis on investment over traditional trade deals, ensuring continuity in trade and diplomacy through experienced staff, particularly if officials like Mike Pyle are appointed to senior roles.
Harris’s commitment to the international rules-based order could also revitalize the World Trade Organization, which has struggled under both the Trump and Biden administrations’ refusal to appoint new judges for the WTO’s Appellate Body. Her nuanced and collaborative approach to foreign policy holds great potential for strengthening U.S. relations with Latin American countries, fostering regional stability, supporting democratic movements, and creating a more prosperous and stable Western Hemisphere.
