Just moments ago, Pres. Obama landed in Santiago, Chile, highlighting a Latin American political agenda that seems to be coming into its own -- namely, Pres. Obama’s arrival in Chile today underscores his strategy of spanning the Latin American political spectrum and engaging those governments that strengthen their institutions, improve social justice and are good for American business. 

Having left Brazil, ruled by Pres. Dilma Roussef, a single mother and former Marxist political prisoner and torture victim, Obama has now touched down in Chile, ruled by Pres. Sebastián Piñera, a right-wing white male billionaire. Yet though Obama’s state visits are spanning the political spectrum from left to right, there is an ethical consistency to his choices: Obama has chosen to endorse administrations that are good news for their citizens, the region, and America -- a glorious confluence of interests.

As I blogged over a year ago on Sebastián Piñera’s election to the Chilean presidency, Piñera breaks through both Chilean and regional political deadlocks. 

Nationally, it breaks the 20-year hold on power by the center-left coalition Concertación, widely credited with steering Chile out of its long and bloody dictatorship. Mr. Piñera won (albeit with the smallest majority in Chile’s history) despite longstanding fear of the right’s ties to the dictatorial government of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. 

Second of all, Mr. Piñera joins other right-wing rulers of major Latin American countries, namely: Alan García of Perú, Felipe Calderón of México and Álvaro Uribe of Colombia, who counterbalance socialist leaders such as Correa in Ecuador, Morales in Bolivia, Chávez in Venezuela and Ortega in Nicaragua.

Although leftist leaders still do well (to wit, Rouseff’s election in Brazil), both Brazil’s Roussef and Chile’s Piñera represent a major shift away from the divisive radicalism of the Chávez-led Bolivarian coalition and toward a more centrist and pragmatic approach (which I have always advocated) that focuses simultaneously on increased social justice (increased economic opportunities, better education, more access to healthcare) for all, while understanding the importance of macroeconomic stability in a free market capitalist system that is governed through strong state institutions, not single-handedly by some caudillo. So far, this has been good news for everyone.

Indeed, as I wrote in The Weekly Standard, Roussef’s policies have proven to be a continuation of the pragmatic policies of her predecessor and former boss, President Luís Inacio “Lula” da Silva, for whom she worked as minister of energy and chief of staff. Lula's practical capitalism and aggressive policies of poverty eradication are reported to have lifted 20 million Brazilians out of poverty and another 29 million into the middle class. 

While pragmatic capitalist policies were expected of Piñera, a billionaire businessman, he has shown great compassion in the aftermath of the earthquake that racked his country only days into his presidency and has wisely continued the popular social welfare and poverty eradication programs that saw his predecessor Pres. Michelle Bachelet (another single mother) depart the presidency, after completing her constitutionally mandated limit, with a 75% approval rating -- much higher than Obama has ever seen.  

You can be sure that Obama will be arriving with the usual posse of CEOs in tow, eager to promote American business. And why not? Isn’t helping the American economy one of his duties? But in doing so, Obama is selecting the right long-term partners: administrations that are stable and just and promote the welfare of their own people. 

And for once, what’s good for Latin America, is also good for America. Now isn’t that worth celebrating?