That's unusual, but it's happening. China has lost its position in Latin America.
This week, Mexico announced that it would do so Check that duties Policy surrounding Beijing, closures for all backdoors to access the US market. Meanwhile, American Investors The group has signed a large contract to manage major ports near the Panama Canal.
These two achievements demonstrate that Trump's “America First” foreign policy has produced concrete results in very short periods. The question is, what is necessary to solidify these outcomes and build strong and healthy relationships in America?
Over the past 20 years, Latin America has been seduced by China Economic Investment Project. The Communist state has enormous retention in the region's telecommunications, lithium and copper industries, ports and other important infrastructure.
a United Nations Report From 2000 to 2022, commodity trading between Latin America and China increased 35 times, with total global trade in the region increasing by just four times. Bilateral trade, which barely exceeded $14 billion in 2000, totaled nearly $500 billion by 2022. During this period, US foreign policy was either distracted or denied, and China has acquired a long-standing backyard status.
Fortunately, this situation is beginning to change.
This week, President Claudia Sheinbaum says Mexico is trying to cut imports from Asia. The so-called Plan Mexico reviews the priorities of its major US trading partners. “We privilege countries that have trade treaties,” Sinbaum said. “We have nothing with China.”
Two years ago, this kind of statement would not have been conceived. In 2023, Mexico spent $4.6 billion Buying cars subsidized by China's communist regime – more than $4.4 billion allocated in the acquisition of American cars.
Today, Mexico is not only considering trade policies, but also improving security. Cooperation with The US has brought the DEA hero murderer Enrique “Kiki” Camarena to trial after 40 years of failing. Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Obama and Biden have been trying to capture the infamous drug Lord Caro Quinterro for years, but thanks to new cooperation with their neighbors, only the Trump administration has succeeded.
In the south based in Hong Kong CK Hutchinson He managed the Balboa and San Cristobal port in Panama. It was over at the time.
American company BlackRock has combined purchases to achieve a deal to buy 90% of the Panama Port Company, which operates two facilities at both ends of the Panama Canal in the Pacific and Atlantic. BlackRock also takes 80% ownership of 43 ports operated by Hutchinson in 23 countries. These ports are strategic for trade and security, and currently American companies manage them.
After a visit by the Secretary of State Marco RubioPanama has ended its participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative. This is the first country, but not the first country to make important decisions regarding its alliance with China.
The wind of change may be blowing. For many years, China has lived its dreams, built megaprojects, acquired strategic minerals, and installed satellite stations. Now, the US is beginning to reverse the trend and restore lost leadership.
Investment, incentives, and interaction are key to warding off China's presence in the Americas. The success achieved in weeks shows that there is plenty of space to renew, renew and reinvigorate relations between the US and Latin America.
The US must also plan to Latin America to remove and replace Chinese technologies, such as Huawei, ZTE, and others, which represent threats to local safety and prosperity. The intimacy between these companies and China's military sector and the Communist Party is a real issue.
Meanwhile, the “peace through strength” approach has shown great results, but it also needs to be built on trust, transparency and teamwork. The United States and its neighbors must cooperate not only on the relationship of power, but also on the power of strong relationships. This is the right time.
Arturo McFields is an exiled journalist, former Ambassador of the American National Organization for the Nicaraguan Ambassador and a former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps. He is a graduate of the National Defense University Security and Defense Seminar and Harvard Leadership Course.
