Rep. Joaquin Castro from Texas stated that Communist China is increasing its economic and political influence in Latin America by promoting an authoritarian style of governance and providing surveillance technology to support it. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been focusing on expanding its access to the Western hemisphere as part of a broader effort to gain global economic and political influence. This includes massive investments in critical minerals, terrestrial space infrastructure, and deepwater ports in Latin America and other parts of the world.
To counter this threat, the United States needs to invest in building partnerships and supporting democratic norms, values, and institutions in Latin America. Rep. Castro emphasized the importance of countering China’s efforts to dismantle democracies by advocating for new strategies to strengthen democratic governance in the region.
Mr. Castro also highlighted the need for nearshoring, a process of bringing supply chains back to the Western hemisphere and away from China. This initiative aims to reduce dependency on Chinese influence and strengthen relationships with countries in the region. He pointed out that Mexico has surpassed China as the United States’ largest trading partner, signaling some success in this regard.
Additionally, Rep. Castro stressed the importance of investing in and collaborating with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Latin America to develop trust and regional infrastructure. He highlighted the need to shift the focus from large international development organizations to local groups that may be better suited for the task.
In conclusion, Mr. Castro emphasized the significance of prioritizing and investing in Latin America to maintain the preeminence of the U.S. in international relations and ensure the region’s continued progress towards democratic forms of government. He called for a whole-of-Congress and a whole-of-government approach to address these challenges in the next generation.