拉丁美洲是美国、西欧和日本等资本主义国家重要战略物资的来源地之一。西方国家尤其是美国对拉丁美洲的战略资源依赖很深。目前,由于苏联加紧对非洲和波斯湾地区的渗透,特别是近年来波斯湾地区出现的动荡局势,使西方国家战略资源的主要来源及其海上运输线受到严重威胁。在这种形势下,拉丁美洲的战略资源对西方国家就愈显得重要了。丰富的战略资源拉丁美洲的战略资源非常丰富。在它的二千零七十万平方公里的土地上蕴藏着二十多种对现代工业和国防至关重要的矿产资源。就储藏量讲,据截至一九七三年的统计,铌占世界储量的一半,铜和锑各占三分之一,钴、铁和锡各占四分之一,铝占五分之一,锰、铅、锌、钼、铍等也占相当重要地位。近几年来,阿根廷、哥伦比亚、巴西、委内瑞 Latin America is one of the main sources of strategic material for the capitalist countries such as the United States, Western Europe and Japan. Western countries, especially the United States, rely heavily on strategic resources in Latin America. At present, due to the Soviet Union’s stepping up its infiltration into Africa and the Persian Gulf region, especially the turmoil in the Persian Gulf region in recent years, the major sources of Western strategic resources and their maritime transport lines are seriously threatened. In this situation, the more strategic resources in Latin America are more important to Western countries. Rich Strategic Resources Latin America has a wealth of strategic resources. In its 20.7 million square kilometers of land, there are more than 20 kinds of mineral resources that are vital to modern industry and defense. In terms of reserves, niobium accounts for half of the world’s reserves as of 1973, with one-third each of copper and antimony, one-fourth each of cobalt, iron and tin, and one fifth of aluminum , Manganese, lead, zinc, molybdenum, beryllium, etc. also occupies a very important position. In recent years, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela