Since the second half of the twentieth century, international assistance has become a key instrument in international relations, encompassing not only state-to-state programs but also initiatives led by intergovernmental organizations. This dynamic has also been evident in US foreign policy toward Latin America, particularly in the construction and maintenance of hegemonic relations across the continent. In this context, foreign aid operates as a mechanism of power, shaping interactions between dominant and less powerful states. Beyond this, international assistance plays a significant role in shaping the sociopolitical and economic structures of recipient countries by influencing societal values and interpersonal relations. Thus, analyzing the functions of foreign aid also requires understanding it as a tool of social control within both interstate and cross-societal contexts.