Arturo Valenzuela – Western Hemisphere Affairs

His nomination as assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs was an open secret in Washington foreign policy circles. Valenzuela, a Georgetown University professor, is not expected to bring surprises to the post. An advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her presidential run, Valenzuela was a point man on Latin American policy at the State Department and the National Security Council under former President Bill Clinton.

A man of words, Valenzuela has authored or co-authored nine books, including Nation of Enemies: Chile under Pinochet, about his native country.

Valenzuela, who must gain Senate approval, brings a change of face to State. His predecessor, veteran diplomat Thomas A. Shannon, was viewed as a moderating figure in the often-strained relationship between the Bush White House and Latin America. Another sign of continuity was Obama’s decision to embrace the Bush administration initiative, Pathways to Prosperity with the nations that have signed trade agreements with Washington.

But the new administration has signaled that Latin American policy will center on trade and more.

“We’ve made progress liberalizing trade and opening markets, but now we have to make sure that the benefits of economic growth reach all people,’’ the secretary of state said in a May 13 speech to the Council of the Americas’ 39th Washington Conference.

Calling the hemisphere “the most unequal when it comes to economic opportunity,” Clinton added: “That is just simply unacceptable. And it really is beneath us.” 

Rounding out Obama’s Latin American portfolio, María Otero, the Bolivian-born CEO of the microfinance group Acción International, was nominated to be under secretary of global affairs at  State; Dan Restrepo, an Obama campaign adviser, was named to the Latin American position at the National Security Council; and Frank Mora, a National War College professor is deputy assistant secretary of defense for Western Hemisphere affairs.