ICT Security in U.S. Foreign Policy Towards Latin America: The Case of the Biden Administration’s Discourse

The issue of information and communication technology (ICT) security is becoming increasingly important in the context of international relations and foreign policy. In the present study, the authors analyze the discourse of the Joseph Biden administration in the field of international ICT security in the Latin American dimension, with the aim of identifying the underlying ideology that supports and justifies the U.S. power relations with the region. The scientific novelty of the present study lies in the integrated application of the critical discourse analysis (CDA) method, which allows examining how language practices shape ICT security perceptions and political reality. In addition, the study employs quantitative content analysis, which provides insights into attributed threats, primarily among state actors. The authors conduct the CDA at the contextual and discursive levels. The study’s extensive source base includes materials from U.S. government agencies, encompassing the period from January 2021 to November 2024. The authors critically examine the image of the United States as an agent constructing international ICT security in the Latin American dimension from the perspective of its hegemonic aspirations. The image of Latin America as a region vulnerable in the ICT space and in need of paternalism from Washington is a significant element of the U.S. discourse. At the same time, the images of China and Russia are presented as the main sources of threat to the region to justify the dominant role of the United States. In the background of American discourse, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) are presented as limited but growing threats to ICT security. These discursive practices serve as a tool to legitimize American influence and promote its strategic interests in the region.