China’s New Silk Road, launched in 2013, has become a global infrastructure and cooperation project that is transforming Latin America’s economic and geopolitical landscape. This initiative aims to strengthen connectivity and trade between Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America, already driving major projects in the region and opening a path toward sovereignty and comprehensive development.

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Originally designed for Asia, Europe, and Africa, the New Silk Road expanded to Latin America after Panama signed the first memorandum of understanding in 2017. Since then, more than 21 Latin American countries-including Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Uruguay-have joined the initiative. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) highlights that over 150 countries and 30 international organizations participate in this strategy, which has mobilized massive investments in physical and technological infrastructure, from ports and airports to telecommunications and energy networks.

In Latin America, the Silk Road is already visible through large-scale projects. For example, the reconstruction of the “Eloy Alfaro” international airport in Manta, Ecuador, and the expansion of the Chancay mega-port in Peru, inaugurated in 2024 with Chinese President Xi Jinping in attendance. These developments not only improve logistics and trade but also generate employment and local development, contributing to regional integration and productive diversification.

A Model of Multipolar and Sovereign Development

From a progressive perspective, joining the Silk Road is a commitment to sovereignty and autonomy in the face of pressures from traditional powers. The initiative promotes cooperation based on equality and mutual respect, allowing Latin American countries to diversify their international relations and reduce historical dependence on the United States and Europe. This multipolar approach creates space for cutting-edge industrial and technological development aligned with the region’s needs and potential.

Estaba algo cansado de ascender por la muralla China, pero aquí, dejo la explicación de lo que pretendo lograr en mi vista oficial a China, como presidente de la Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y del Caribe, y como presidente de la República de Colombia. pic.twitter.com/KfC09BTpwa

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) May 12, 2025

The text reads: I was somewhat tired from climbing the Great Wall of China, but here I leave the explanation of what I intend to achieve on my official visit to China, as President of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and as President of the Republic of Colombia.

Colombia Joins the Initiative: A Strategic Step

Recently, Colombia announced its formal entry into the New Silk Road. President Gustavo Petro, during his official visit to Beijing for the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, confirmed that Colombia will sign on to this global alliance. Petro emphasized that this decision reflects Colombia’s and Latin America’s desire to establish international relations based on freedom, equality, and sovereignty. He also highlighted the potential for historically marginalized territories such as San Andrés and Buenaventura to become centers of technological production and digital services, connected via submarine fiber optic cables to Asia and Europe.

While the New Silk Road offers great possibilities, it also presents important challenges. Latin America must manage risks of excessive debt, ensure investments serve national and social interests, and avoid unilateral technological dependence. The key will be to strengthen regional cooperation, negotiate collectively, and prioritize environmental and social sustainability to ensure benefits are lasting and equitable.

The New Silk Road is more than an infrastructure project; it is an opportunity for Latin America to advance toward a sovereign, inclusive, and sustainable development model. Cooperation with China and other emerging countries can drive progress beyond decades of inequality and dependence, building a more united region that plays a leading role on the global stage. The inclusion of Colombia and other Latin American countries underscores the commitment to a multipolar future where regional integration and social justice are the pillars of progress.

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