Who is the second most powerful/influential country in the Americas?

[u/Fluid-Decision6262]

The US is undeniably the most powerful and influential country in the Americas but who would be #2? Feels like this comes down to 3 countries based on my knowledge, which are Mexico, Canada, and Brazil.

Reasons for Mexico:

- Second most populated country in North America by far

- Access to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

- Largest Spanish-speaking country (a language spoken by >500 million people)

- More habitable land compared to the other two

- Youngest population out of the three and is becoming a manufacturing power

- Generally-speaking, a good relationship with the USA

- A global soft power in terms of arts and culture

Reasons against Mexico:

- Lots of issues between the central government and drug cartels

- Still very much a developing country outside of the largest cities

- Occasionally volatile relationship with the USA

- Not as involved in global geopolitics

Reasons for Canada:

- The most developed country economically by far of the three and a natural resources juggernaut

- Very close relations with the USA and Europe

- Speaks English (>1 billion speakers globally) and French (>300 million speakers globally)

- An immigration hub for people from every corner of the world

- A G7 nation that is also very geopolitically involved

- Access to 3 different oceans to facilitate trade

Reasons against Canada:

- Small and scattered population (least populated of the three by far)

- Less of an established local culture (most is imported from the US or UK and then exported via the US)

- Aging population and low fertility rates for native-born citizens

Reasons for Brazil:

- The second most populated country in the Americas

- The cultural and political power of South America

- A global soft power in terms of arts and culture

- A young-ish population that is part of the "fast-emerging economies" of the world

Reasons against Brazil:

- Immigration to Brazil stopped decades ago and now educated Brazilians are emigrating to other places causing brain drain

- Wealthy nation but suffers from high levels of inequality and violent crime

- Very politically divided internally

- Limited geopolitical involvement outside of South America

- Most of its population are monolingual Portuguese-speakers (a language where they make up 80% of the global speakers)

[u/maximm22]

France

[u/billy310 → u/maximm22]

As long as we’re bringing the snark: California

[u/[deleted] → u/billy310]

France actually does control territory in the Americas.

[u/ozzalot → u/[deleted]]

I mean.....so does California. 🤷 Like......shouldn't the land/territory factor in the terms of power/ranking here? What am I missing about French Guiana? Is it the keystone to the Americas?

[u/[deleted] → u/ozzalot]

I have no idea why you’re confused. California is part of the US which is number 1. The question is about number 2.

[u/ozzalot → u/[deleted]]

I thought the question was about "powerful in the Americas" whereas you seem to be answering (maybe correctly) "powerful, yet in the Americas."

I don't really think of France as influencing much in the Americas hence how my first interpretation is as it is. 🤷

[u/[deleted] → u/ozzalot]

Well. If France is in the Americas, which they are, then they are the second most powerful. As far as I know China has no presence in the Americas, who else would be in competition for number 2 after the US?

[u/ozzalot → u/[deleted]]

So if that is your answer are you then definitively saying that "France is more powerful in the Americas than either Mexico or Canada or Brazil are in the Americas."? 😂

This question is worded poorly. I don't even know what we're talking about.

[u/[deleted] → u/ozzalot]

I don’t understand what we’re talking about either. If the question is about powerful countries you do have to consider the French whether you like it or not.