A month after promoting the establishment of PROSUR, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera contradicted the central principles of the new regional bloc during a trip to China.
Washington can no longer take the Caribbean for granted. That means more than just impotently warning partners south of the hemisphere about China and Russia. Instead it will require more effective diplomacy and economic statecraft.
China has worked to deepen economic, investment and diplomatic ties with Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago is a focus of their interest. The U.S. should pay more attention.
Could China use its growing infrastructure investments and contacts in Latin America and the Caribbean in the event of a conflict with the United States?
On the third episode of “Two gringos with questions,” your hosts talked to Ambassador Shannon on the importance of U.S. presence in the region and his secrets for surviving thousands of meetings and briefings.
By highlighting its supposed harmonious, win-win regional foreign policy, the conference revealed that China is bent on extending its influence and power in its neighborhood.
While the United States has a considerable stake in the outcome of China’s advancing position in Panama, it must manage the challenge with prudence and respect for Panama’s sovereignty.
The U.S. can both balance Chinese influence and help Latin American governments address environmental and social concerns by investing in the “soft” side of the infrastructure boom.
El Salvador’s change will likely contribute to the sense of urgency of the remaining states that recognize Taiwan to follow the Salvadoran example and close a deal with the PRC before the opportunities for negotiating compensation for doing so dry up.
Russian-owned outlets have been the chief offenders. The vast majority of misinformation is about Venezuela and U.S.-Latin America relations.
