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The States of Latin America have never played an active role on the American and international stage. Submitted to external influence, they claim a right to autonomy. Their diplomatic experience offers them a wide range of options and each country used its position for realising an original equation, in order to defend its sovereignty. For some the main risk is North American, for others the closer foreign States. Many have sought to diversify external dependencies. The less well-armed have developed strategies of negotiated submission with the United States. The most powerfull advocate independence. Brazil affirms itself on the regional scene, but this affirmation is not unanimous. Many in Latin America fear the influence of Brazil as much as the United States’ one.