国际金融危机、世界多极化的发展及奥巴马的上台，为拉美国家外交政策调整提供了新的契机。奥马巴上台之初采取了改善美拉关系的一些措施。但美国与哥伦比亚签订的军事合作协定及美国在洪都拉斯政变问题上的政策使美拉关系面临新的考验。拉美国家继续加强一体化合作，但内部政治纷争、历史遗留的边界纠纷、国际金融危机后不断扩大的贸易争端及美国因素等，导致拉美国家间的矛盾和冲突不断扩大。拉美国家多元化对外关系取得积极进展，与欧盟的传统关系继续巩固，与包括中国在内的亚太国家、俄罗斯和伊朗的关系有新的进展。
Global financial crisis，world multipolarization and Obama’s success in US presidential election were proved to be new opportunities for LAC countries to adjust their foreign policies. During his early days in the White House，Obama adopted series of policies to better US relations with LAC. However，the Military Cooperation Agreement with Colombia and the US position on Honduras coup subjected the relationship between the US and LAC countries to a new test. During 2009，LAC countries’ continuing integration efforts were undermined by internal political wrangles，disputes over boarder issues and increasingly rampant trade conflicts. The US factor drove the existing conflicts and contradictions even acuter. Meanwhile，progresses were made in diversifying LAC’s foreign relations，LAC’s traditional relationship with the EU continued to be consolidated and new advances were seen in their relationship with China and other Asia-Pacific countries，Russian and Iran as well.
