President Carter leaves a mixed legacy in Latin America. During his presidency, he took a more hands-off approach, focusing his efforts on advancing human rights in the region. Carter is credited with helping to usher in democracies in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
But Carter leaves a more complicated legacy in two countries in particular: Cuba and Nicaragua.
During his presidency, Carter pushed to end the American embargo on Cuba, but he was not successful. And in Nicaragua, Carter ended support for the Somoza regime, which helped the socialist Sandinista revolution take power.
In both countries, Carter bet on dialogue — even delivering an unprecedented speech in Havana in 2002 in which he pushed a pro-democracy civil society movement — but, in the end, democracy flailed.
In Cuba, some of the pro-democracy activists he backed ended up in jail. In Nicaragua, as he observed elections in 2007, he told Americans to give the Sandinista revolutionary Daniel Ortega another chance, saying he was now "radically different." But Ortega remains in power, accused by the U.N. of perpetrating crimes against humanity.
In statements on Sunday, both countries praised Carter.
"Our people will remember his efforts to improve relations with gratitude," Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said.
In a statement, the Nicaraguan government said: "We hope the life of the president, simple and approachable, serves as a model of understanding for peace among the community of independent nations on this continent and the world."
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