doi:10.7916/w74n-vp19Oral history interview with Bernard W. Aronson 2021Aronson, Bernard, Woral historiesmixed materialGeopolitics--Latin AmericaPresidents--United StatesUnited States Latin AmericaAronson, BernardObama, BarackSantos, Juan ManuelFuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de ColombiaBernard Aronson discusses his role in the negotiations between the Colombian government under the leadership of President Juan Manuel Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which Aronson supported as U.S. special envoy to the Colombian peace process following his appointment by President Obama in February 2015. Aronson, who previously served as assistant secretary of state for inter-American affairs from 1989 to 1993, situates the Obama administration's policy toward Latin America within the history of American post-Cold War foreign policy toward the region, and frames the conditions under which a successful peace process became possible. Aronson describes his role as an informal mediator during the negotiations, and outlines the process' major issues, which included the terms of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR), the ensuring of post-agreement security, and steps to promote transitional justice. Also discussed are the relationship between the peace process and the Obama administration's normalization of diplomatic relations with Cuba, bi-partisan support in the U.S. Congress for the peace process, the impact of the 2016 Colombian peace agreement referendum, and the role of the United States in the implementation of the agreement