U.S.–China Competition in Latin America: Ports, Power, and Politics

Long neglected by the United States, Latin America is now on the frontlines of the global contest with China. Washington's new National Security Strategy made it clear that the U.S. must remain the unrivaled hegemonic power in the Western Hemisphere, something it can't do so long as China is the largest trading partner for most Latin American countries.

The U.S. is particularly unnerved by the scale of Chinese infrastructure development across the region and the fact that it's becoming a major investor, particularly in larger countries like Brazil.

Former Chilean ambassador to China Jorge Heine, now a non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute, joins Eric to discuss why this competition is accelerating and whether "active non-alignment" remains a viable strategy in this new era of geopolitical competition.

📌 Topics Covered in this Episode

• The intensifying U.S.–China rivalry in Latin America
• Washington's push to block Chinese infrastructure projects
• Strategic battlegrounds: ports, telecom cables, and digital connectivity
• How Latin American countries are balancing competing pressures
• The concept of "active non-alignment" in today's geopolitical climate
• Why China remains an indispensable economic partner for the region

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