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Dictators, drugs, discord - Latin America and the USA (1/3) | DW Documentary

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Almost all Latin American crises of the 1960s and 1970s were influenced by the USA. Whether it was Brazil's dictatorship, the coup in Chile or the Cuban Missile Crisis - at some level, American politics were involved. Brazil's first "national security" dictatorship was established in 1964 with the support of the United States. Washington, fearing an expansion of a perceived communist threat following the Cuban Revolution, rallied behind the coup leaders - making Brazil the first "national security" dictatorship in the region. Many opponents of the regime fled to Chile, where Augusto Pinochet seized power in a coup - also with the support of the United States. Almost simultaneously, the secret services of Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay joined forces under the code name "Operation Condor" to track down and eliminate their opponents. But in Nicaragua, a bloody civil war broke out and brought the leftist Sandinistas to power. This gave rise to a period of hope across the continent for greater independence from the United States. But Ronald Reagan's inauguration in 1981 marked a new era in relations with Latin America. Corrections: 06:55 This happened in 1970, not a few months earlier. 08:33 The correct date is 1971. Part 1: https://youtu.be/UkZASVWnHmU Part 2: https://youtu.be/IJ3zOE9V18I Part 3: https://youtu.be/tweCup3tL04 Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLovlAKbQVz6CSYO4CxmIzQXrLkV8tY_6_&si=KlqFh7QL3aHgEmFL #documentary #dwdocumentary #dwdocs #latinamerica #usa ______ DW Documentary gives you knowledge beyond the headlines. Watch top documentaries from German broadcasters and international production companies. Meet intriguing people, travel to distant lands, get a look behind the complexities of daily life and build a deeper understanding of current affairs and global events. Subscribe and explore the world around you with DW Documentary. Subscribe to: ‬ ⮞ DW Documentary (English): https://www.youtube.com/@DWDocumentary ⮞ DW Documental (Spanish): https://www.youtube.com/@DWDocumental ⮞ DW Documentary وثائقية دي دبليو (Arabic): https://www.youtube.com/@dwdocarabia ⮞ DW Documentary हिन्दी (Hindi): https://www.youtube.com/@dwdochindi ⮞ DW Dokumenter (Indonesian): https://www.youtube.com/@DWDokumenter ⮞ DW Doku (German): https://www.youtube.com/@dwdoku For more visit: http://www.dw.com/en/tv/docfilm/s-3610 Follow DW Documentary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwdocumentary/ Follow DW Documental on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dwdocumental We kindly ask viewers to read and stick to the DW netiquette policy on our channel: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1G

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Top Comments
@HamurabiFrança
It's unfortunate that many people watch this series and still don't realize how those events influence on nowadays' socioeconomics and political agenda.
77 likes
@Chatterbox-94
What’s most awful is that the US has never taken full accountability for their actions in Latin America. They shake it off and act like it’s nothing.
39 likes
@MoeRayRay
Since the 1960's, the US has had their hands on Latin-America and behind the curtains manufacturing coups, executions, cover operations, run drug operations, leaders assassinations... you name it !! Thank you @DW documentary for this piece.
176 likes
@UndogmaticJS
What a timely documentary! Great job DW ❤
122 likes
@andresmattos7541
Seems that everything that US touches gets poisoned in Latin America
39 likes
@JoseAlvarez-wv7lk
Brazil's military dictatorship was NOT the first in the region. In fact, the first coup d'état in latin america backed by the United States was long before the Cuban Revolution. It was operation PBSuccess in Guatemala, 1954.
55 likes
@SYMO_3D
"To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal". -- Henry Kissinger, 1968
41 likes
@j.antonioribeirodenunezypo5625
Para América Latina ha sido nefasta y desgraciada la hegemonía de Estados Unidos. Nos han humillando, robado y amenazado, como se vio una vez mas empezando este 2026. Durante la Guerra Fría, el gobierno gringo no hizo más que apoyar dictaduras y arruinar nuestras democracias. Como dijo Bolívar en una carta de septiembre de 1829: "los Estados Unidos parecen destinados por la providencia a plagar de hambre y miseria la América en nombre de la libertad".
36 likes
@GuilhermeHChaves
Hey, brazilian here, great documentary. May you create subtitles in portuguese once many brazilians don't understand english I want to show this documentary to my mother Thank you DW
18 likes
@SanJuan39
Wow! DW is really cranking it up, the production quality here is at another notch!
64 likes
@NewEra22
Been watching documentaries on YouTube since it's inception 20 years ago - this specific doc is outstanding. No fluff. One of the best I've ever seen on here. Well done DW 👏🏼
15 likes
@MoneyHouse-e3u
This is a fascinating and insightful documentary! It sheds so much light on the complex history and relationship between Latin America and the USA. I highly recommend watching it to understand
40 likes
@VictorOtieno-j6j
thanks for the documentary
40 likes
@hotttt28
Allende was murdered by CIA !
40 likes
@amparoglukstad4569
As a Latin America, I am crying to see this video but I am crying for Gratitude!!!! Finally, the world is getting to know why Latin America has and is so dysfunctional and poor. We Latin American have NOT been able to let this continent grow due to the imperialism of the USA and the ignoring of their existence of these continent by Europe. Thank you
15 likes