US Seeks To Reassert Control Over China in Latin America

Intent on countering China's commercial influence in the region, the United States has been actively promoting a private investment program challenging Beijing's involvement in infrastructural developments and energy mega-projects. 

Since the umbrella program's launch in December 2019, U.S. State Department Secretary Mike Pompeo has rushed to sign up Colombia, Honduras, Panama, Chile, among other nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Guyana and Suriname in his recent visit to the countries, both of whom recently made major offshore oil discoveries. 

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Seeking to "catalyze private sector investment in Latin America and the Caribbean," America Crece seeks to limit the influence of China's Belt and Road Initiative, the $1.5 trillion foreign and economic policy which already not only has 19 regional partner countries but has secured major mining, energy and transportation contracts for Chinese state-owned and private firms. 

“Inside China, a number of academics see America Crece as the US attempt to reassert control over Latin America as its unique area of influence – a new version of the Monroe doctrine,” Rob Soutar, managing editor of Diálogo Chino, said.