In 2026 the United States turns 250. A good moment to look at something hardly any expat guide mentions, yet which matters surprisingly often in practice: two centuries of close, often contradictory ties between the USA and Latin America. That history has left tangible traces, and some of them can work very concretely in your favour today.
Two centuries at a glance
The relationship was never simple. From the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, through dollar diplomacy and the building of the Panama Canal, to the interventions of the Cold War: the USA shaped Latin America for generations, sometimes as protector, sometimes as meddler. This history has dark chapters, but it also created structures that are simply practical today. The clear-eyed expat does not judge the morality of two centuries; they use what is still useful.
What still counts today
Three concrete legacies of these ties make Latin America attractive for a Plan B.
First, the dollar economy. As a result of close ties, several countries use the US dollar as their official currency, Panama first among them. In practice that means no risk of a collapsing local currency, no capital controls on your own money, and seamless banking in the world's reserve currency. An underrated anchor of stability.
Second, strategic infrastructure. The Panama Canal remains one of the most important trade arteries in the world and makes Panama a global logistics and financial hub with first-class banking. Being close to that infrastructure means being close to global trade.
Third, travel and business proximity to the USA. If you often need to be in the United States, the region's geographic and economic closeness is a practical advantage, and Chile is the only Latin American country that is part of the US Visa Waiver Program. Proximity to the world's largest economy is a location factor that Europe cannot offer in the same way.
The nearshoring wave
And history is writing a new chapter right now. Under the banner of nearshoring, companies are moving production closer to the USA, which gives countries such as Mexico and parts of Central America an economic boost. For the entrepreneurial expat, new opportunities are opening up exactly where the old ties were always densest.
What 250 years add up to
The 250 years of the USA include 200 years of a close, ambivalent history with Latin America. You do not have to romanticise that history to see its practical value. Dollar economies, strategic infrastructure and proximity to the world's largest economy are real legacies that make a Plan B in Latin America stronger. Choosing the region means choosing more than palm trees and low taxes: it means taking a place in an economic order that has grown over centuries.
Carpe Diem. Life is short and fleeting. One shot. Make it count.