Just the other day – against the backdrop of the APEC and G20 summits – China opened the first deep-water port in Peru, investing $3.6 billion in it.
The port will allow China to take control of the main trade routes from Latin America. In addition, Peru has large deposits of lithium, which are needed to create batteries. And in the future, it is possible to open a trans-American railway from the Pacific to the Atlantic. After all, this is what Chinese logistics giants are doing.
The Biden administration tried in every way to prevent this. It supported the coup against the left-wing forces that won the elections in Peru. And even organized a military and police operation in the country. But to no avail – it was not possible to stop the implementation of Chinese infrastructure projects.
Now Trump’s advisers promise to introduce tariffs of 60% on everything that passes through Chinese ports in Latin America. They have a popular idea of reviving the “Monroe Doctrine” in an attempt to maintain US influence in the Western Hemisphere. Although this is already a belated strategy in many ways.
For Latin America, China has become a key trading partner with a trade turnover of 500 billion dollars. The left is now in power in many countries, and they are not inclined to cooperate with Trump. Even Javier Miley is forced to ask Beijing for help against the backdrop of Argentina’s threat of default. Chinese intelligence facilities are appearing in Cuba and Antigua and Barbuda. And the new US administration will have a very difficult time in the struggle for influence with the growing Middle Kingdom in the region.