Rise in Chinese influence in Latin America & the Caribbean, US Defense officials warn

Washington/Beijing – Senior officials of the US Defense Department warned that China’s influence in the Latin American Continent and the Caribbean island region, known as the US’s ‘backyard’, has been steadily increasing. It has come to light that this warning was given during the US Congressional hearing a few days ago. The Biden administration’s neglect of this continent was also pointed out during the hearing. In December 2021, a comprehensive agreement was reached between China and the Latin American countries’ organisation CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States). It had been apparent through this agreement that China would provide Latin American countries with nuclear technology, space, 5G and defence cooperation.

General Laura Richardson, the head of the US Navy’s Southern Command, was heard before Congress’s US House Committee on Armed Services (HASC). During this hearing, General Richardson drew attention to the ongoing activities of China in the Latin American region. The head of the Southern Command warned that China built dual-use (civilian and military) space facilities in the area. She added that China could manipulate regional regimes through predatory investment practices. In addition, she said that China had taken control of sensitive and important activities such as ports and mineral mines in Latin America.

General Richardson said that Chinese President Xi Jinping regularly contacts the heads of state in this area, and the United States should also implement the same policy. However, the US ambassador has not been appointed in leading countries like Brazil and Chile for many years. This shows that the American administration has not been serious, said General Richardson, dryly drawing on the inefficiency of the Biden administration.

China has invested billions of dollars in Latin American countries under its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI or B&R). In the last 16 years, information has come to light that China has given loans of nearly 150 billion dollars to Latin American countries for projects in various sectors. Besides, trade between China and Latin American countries has increased as many as 25 times in the last two decades.

Trade between China and Latin American countries was $12 billion in 2000, whereas now it has been more than $300 billion. China has become the largest trading partner for many Latin American countries. The United States held this position earlier.

Two ports in the Panama Canal area, which have been important from the point of view of global trade, are currently under China’s control. Argentina, Bolivia and Chile in Latin America have been known as the Lithium Triangle, and among them, China has invested more than one billion dollars in Bolivia’s lithium sector. A Chinese company in Argentina has set up a space station, and it can be used to target US capabilities, the Defense Department has warned. Efforts to contain China began during the administration of former US President Donald Trump, but analysts claim that the subsequent Biden administration still does not take China’s moves very seriously.

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