| | '''Latin America''', in the broadest sense, is the entire southern portion of the Americas including parts of the [[Caribbean]], [[Central America]] and [[South America]]. It does not, however, include [[Suriname]], [[Guyana]] and [[French Guiana]] (an integral part of the [[France|French Republic]]). Latin America has 523 million people, far more than the United States population of about 300 million. It is considered largely [[Catholic]] and is Spanish-, French-, and Portuguese-speaking. The region is of crucial political importance to the United States. Former President [[George W. Bush]] toured Latin America on a peace mission to try and curb negative influence stemming from [[Venezuela]]n dictator [[Hugo Chavez]].<ref>[https://www.newsmax.com/hottopics/Latin_America.shtml Latin America]. Newsmax.</ref> | | '''Latin America''', in the broadest sense, is the entire southern portion of the Americas including parts of the [[Caribbean]], [[Central America]] and [[South America]]. It does not, however, include [[Suriname]], [[Guyana]] and [[French Guiana]] (an integral part of the [[France|French Republic]]). Latin America has 523 million people, far more than the United States population of about 300 million. It is considered largely [[Catholic]] and is Spanish-, French-, and Portuguese-speaking. The region is of crucial political importance to the United States. Former President [[George W. Bush]] toured Latin America on a peace mission to try and curb negative influence stemming from [[Venezuela]]n dictator [[Hugo Chavez]].<ref>[https://www.newsmax.com/hottopics/Latin_America.shtml Latin America]. Newsmax.</ref> |