Foreign investment has played a central role in shaping the political, social, and economic dynamics of Latin American countries. From the late nineteenth century to the contemporary period, foreign capital has been both a source of opportunity and dependency. The attraction of external investment has allowed states in the region to modernize infrastructure, expand industries, and gain access to international markets, but it has also deepened structural inequalities, reinforced economic dependence on global powers, and created tensions between state sovereignty and foreign interests. Historically, foreign investment in Latin America was concentrated in extractive industries such as mining, oil, and agriculture. Companies from the United States and Europe invested heavily in railroads, plantations, and natural resource extraction, creating enclaves of economic activity that were largely disconnected from the broader national economy. While these ventures generated revenue and jobs, they often marginalized local populations, displaced indigenous communities, and reinforced patterns of export dependency. Countries like Mexico, Venezuela, and Chile became reliant on foreign corporations to exploit their natural wealth, leaving the state vulnerable to fluctuations in global demand and to political pressure from powerful investors’ home countries. In the twentieth century, the role of foreign investment expanded with the rise of multinational corporations. The United States emerged as the dominant external actor, with its companies exerting control over key industries such as