南美洲

我們終於來到最後一站,充滿拉丁風情的南美洲。台灣人普遍對南美洲不熟悉,不僅因為缺乏直飛的航線,去南美洲旅行有點困難,更是因為南美洲已經在國際局勢中沉寂蠻久的了。跟印太地區獲得的關注度相比,美國幾乎沒有放太多心思在南美洲。就算2022年美國總算舉辦美洲峰會,也因為拒絕邀請委內瑞拉和古巴而引發爭議。同一時間中國默默成為南美最大的貿易夥伴,巴西和智利對中國的出口已經超過了對美國和歐盟的總和。也別忘了俄羅斯在這裡的影響力。經過近幾年的政權更迭,南美洲掀起「新粉紅」浪潮,左派領袖們試圖與普丁維繫關係,以彌補美國離開所留下的真空。
南美洲有著龐大的石油和天然氣資源,阿根廷、玻利維亞和智利組成的「鋰三角」更是未來電動車原料的關鍵。到底誰才能挽回南美洲的心呢?
Congratulations! Now you've arrived at the last stop on our World Calendar--South America. Beginning in the 14th century, Spain, and to a lesser extent Portugal, conquered and settled most of South America, starting a colonial period which lasted centuries. These European conquerors stayed there for nearly three centuries, so most South Americans speak Spanish or Portuguese. The region is ethnically diverse. Africans and Indians brought by the colonists also become part of the South American population.
From colonization, regional conflicts, civil wars, and military dictatorship to the recent pink tide, South America today features mainly left-leaning governments. Without a single unified economy, cross-country warfare, and dwindling local extremism, South America has become a more peaceful continent that doesn't attract much attention these days. As the saying goes: “no news is good news.” South American countries only need to concentrate on their domestic problems for now. But, that's enough to keep them busy.