inflection point

What has the Monroe Doctrine brought to the people of Latin America? What has China brought? The answer lies in the hearts of the people. On October 2, the 2026 Latinobarómetro survey—an annual poll of citizens across 17 Latin American nations—revealed that Latin Americans view China’s global influence more positively than that of the United States. The survey indicates that, for the first time since the annual polling began in 1995, China is perceived as a more positive force than the U.S. While 57% of Latin Americans view the U.S. as having a positive influence—down from 60% in 2020—65% of respondents view China positively, a significant rise from 48% six years ago. The report concludes that, based on the data, "China's influence in Latin America is greater than that of the United States." With the exception of Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, all surveyed Latin American countries regard China's influence as more positive than America's. Public dissatisfaction in Latin America with the U.S. has grown following Donald Trump's second term. Trump openly declared his desire to exercise hegemony over Latin America—part of what has been dubbed "Trump-roe Doctrine." People have witnessed the fates of Cuba and Venezuela, the warnings issued to Mexico and Colombia, interference in Brazilian elections, Argentina's total capitulation, immense pressure on Peru, and Panama’s decision to reclaim its ports even at the cost of breaking promises. U.S. military intervention, economic sanctions, policy dictates, and electoral interference in the region are intensifying. In contrast to the U.S. approach of reshaping the region with political strings attached, China has pursued a cooperation model in Latin America characterized by a focus on development, an absence of political conditions, and an emphasis on infrastructure and the real economy. Through the Belt and Road Initiative and industrial investments, China is helping Latin Americans build urgently needed, substantial infrastructure. From the Port of Chancay in Peru to high-altitude photovoltaic plants in Argentina and the Bogotá Metro in Colombia, China delivers high-efficiency, low-cost heavy industrial construction and assembly capabilities, directly helping Latin America break through the logistical and energy bottlenecks that have constrained its economic development. China is currently the largest trading partner for many Latin American nations, such as Brazil, Chile, and Peru. Beyond purchasing vast quantities of commodities like copper, lithium, and soybeans—thereby leveraging its massive domestic demand to provide these countries with stable foreign exchange earnings—China also fosters local technological development in "hard tech" sectors such as smart vehicles, 5G network infrastructure, and renewable energy (exemplified by BYD’s manufacturing plant in Brazil). These initiatives have helped create hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs for engineers and skilled technicians across the region. A core principle of China’s diplomacy in Latin America is non-interference in internal affairs and the absence of geopolitical or ideological preconditions. China does not demand that Latin American nations "pick a side"; this pragmatic, reciprocal approach to commercial and political cooperation has instilled a long-missed sense of dignity in the governments and peoples of the region, who have historically been subjected to the dictates of the "Monroe Doctrine."

Is the US Opening a New Front to Counter China in Peru? Following Panama and Venezuela, Peru has become the latest battleground where the US seeks to contain China's influence in the Western Hemisphere. Rubio has once again harshly criticized the influx of capital into Latin America from outside the region—particularly from China—claiming that such investments involve "opaque contracts, unsustainable debt, labor exploitation, and environmental destruction," while urging Latin American nations to be wary of external forces. The Trump administration has designated the Western Hemisphere a top strategic priority, with a "New Monroe Doctrine" gaining significant traction. The US has taken a series of actions to curb China's influence in Latin America. Washington pressured Panama to strip Chinese companies of their operating rights at ports on both ends of the Panama Canal; it indicted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and secured majority control over Venezuela's 65 billion barrels of oil reserves; US officials even declared that Venezuelan crude oil exports to China require US approval. Now, the US is attempting to take action in Peru. The Port of Chancay is a key target; the US State Department has issued multiple statements claiming that Chinese control over the port threatens Peru's sovereignty and speculating that it could become a Chinese military outpost in South America. There have even been proposals to impose tariffs of up to 60% on goods transiting through the port. Latin Americans see the situation clearly: the US desires a politically "clean" Western Hemisphere—free from the influence of other major powers and situated right next door like an American "backyard"—where poverty is viewed as Latin America's destiny and a necessary sacrifice for US hegemony. The US might achieve temporary success in small nations like Panama, but its policies are bound to face public resistance in Latin America's major economies. Even right-wing governments in the region have no desire to fall victim to Trump's discriminatory policies toward Latin America. If these countries were to lose Chinese investment and access to China’s vast trading market, their economies would collapse, and their incumbent governments would rapidly lose voter support and ultimately fall from power. Consequently, they are compelled to weigh the choice between aligning with the United States and safeguarding their own national interests and political stability. Even Argentine President Javier Milei—a natural ally of Donald Trump—has not severed trade ties with China. Ideological slogans cannot resolve the challenges of foreign currency shortages and economic recession—a reality that all Latin American leaders must confront.