South America
Argentina
French is listed as one of the languages spoken in Argentina. It was settled by Spain in 1553. French is introduced to Argentina through the great influx of European immigrants in 1914. Among these countries were Spain, Italy, and Germany, who also have maintained small communities there. France has become one of Argentina's major trading partners.
Brazil
Brazil is the only Latin American country that gets its language and culture from Portugal, who claimed the territory in 1500. During the Napoleonic wars, a major French influence would be established in Brazil. The French Army invaded Brazil and would remain for 13 years until the revolution of 1820 brought the King, Joao VI back from Rio de Janeiro, where he fled upon their arrival in 1807. This exposure, as well as the Western Allies air bases established in Brazil during World War II, left a small community of French speaking people in Brazil.
French Guiana
The French first settled here in 1604. French Guiana had served as a penal colony for France since 1852. They accepted the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and became an Overseas Territory. It is used today to launch "Ariane rockets" carrying satellites.