Historical Background and Development:
– The Monroe Doctrine and Roosevelt Corollary setting the stage for hemispheric defense policies.
– Concerns over Axis overtures in the 1930s leading to discussions on collective defense.
– The Act of Chapultepec in 1945 shaping regional collective defense efforts.
– Adoption of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance in 1947.
– Impact of Cold War tensions on the dynamics of the Rio Treaty in the 1950s and 1960s.
Cold War Dynamics:
– Latin American perceptions of sovereignty implications in collaborating with the United States.
– U.S. interventions in Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and support in the Falklands War causing tensions.
– The strain on multilateral ideals due to unilateral U.S. actions.
– Impact of Cold War dynamics on defensive cooperation and the perception of U.S. actions.
Recent Developments and Withdrawals:
– Mexico withdrawing from the treaty in 2002 due to concerns over U.S. actions.
– Establishment of UNASUR’s regional security council in 2008.
– ALBA countries initiating their withdrawal from the TIAR in 2012.
– Denunciations of the treaty by Nicaragua, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Ecuador between 2012 and 2014.
– Reactions to withdrawals and returns to the treaty by various countries in recent years.
Invocations and Considerations:
– Instances of invoking the Rio Treaty during critical events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and 9/11 attacks.
– Venezuela’s considerations to rejoin the TIAR during a presidential crisis in 2019.
– Approvals and denunciations of the treaty by Venezuela and Uruguay in recent years.
– The evolving stance of countries towards the treaty based on geopolitical circumstances.
Regional Security and Alliance Dynamics:
– Analysis of alliances, coalitions, and ententes in the American alliance system.
– Impact of Brazilian foreign policy on hemispheric security.
– The Falklands War and its implications on hemispheric relations.
– UNASUR’s establishment and its implications on the TIAR.
– Reactions and developments following countries’ abandonment or rejoining of the TIAR mechanism.
The Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (commonly known as the Rio Treaty, the Rio Pact, the Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, or by the Spanish-language acronym TIAR from Tratado Interamericano de Asistencia Recíproca) is an intergovernmental collective security agreement signed in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro among many countries of the Americas.
| Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance Traité interaméricain d'assistance réciproque Tratado Interamericano de Assistência Recíproca Tratado Interamericano de Asistencia Recíproca | |
|---|---|
.svg) Member states in green with Venezuela in light green. | |
| Signed | 2 September 1947 |
| Location | Rio de Janeiro |
| Effective | 3 December 1948 |
| Condition | Ratification by two-thirds of the signatory states |
| Signatories | 23 |
| Parties | 17 |
| Depositary | Pan American Union |
| Languages | English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish |
The central principle contained in its articles is that an attack against one is to be considered an attack against them all; this was known as the "hemispheric defense" doctrine. Despite this, several members have breached the treaty on multiple occasions.
The treaty was initially created in 1947 and came into force in 1948, in accordance with Article 22 of the treaty. The Bahamas was the most recent country to sign and ratify it in 1982.
