2. Augusto Pinochet: The Chilean Dictator
In 1973, the U.S. backed General Augusto Pinochet following his violent coup against Chile’s elected government. Pinochet’s regime quickly became synonymous with brutal repression and widespread human rights violations. Yet, for Washington, the priority was halting the spread of communism in Latin America during the Cold War. This support, detailed by The Guardian, underscored a willingness to overlook authoritarianism when it served a larger strategic aim—forever shaping U.S.-Latin American relations and Chile’s own trajectory.
