US political pressure in Latin America has helped open the door for growing Israeli influence, but longstanding solidarity with the Palestinian cause has not withered away, regional experts have told Middle East Eye.
Several left-wing Latin American governments, which for decades had framed their foreign policy around anti-imperialism and decolonial identity, continue to express solidarity with the Palestinian cause - sometimes elevating symbolic gestures to state-level policy decisions.
During the height of Israel's war on Gaza, Brazil's president labelled the devastating offensive a genocide, Colombia suspended diplomatic relations with Israel and Chile sought accountability for Israeli actions in international courts.
But US interventions, including extensive lobbying by US politicians, threats against regional leaders and the recent seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, are geared towards tilting the region towards much closer alignment with Israel.
"Latin American states lack instruments of hard power and are therefore constrained in how they can respond to US pressure," Ali Farhat, a Latin American affairs specialist, told MEE.
