China Is Building Influence in Latin America, Quietly

China's influence in Latin America is increasingly being built through smaller, less visible deals rather than the headline-grabbing infrastructure projects that defined its engagement in the 2010s. Surveillance technology, electric buses, power networks, critical minerals and subnational partnerships are creating a decentralized web of economic and political ties that can be harder to scrutinize or unwind.

For Washington, the challenge is that pressure on governments to reduce Chinese ties often comes without credible alternatives. Latin American countries, meanwhile, are balancing U.S. security pressure against China's economic complementarity, while seeking to preserve strategic autonomy.

Natalia Cote-Muñoz, the Managing Partner and CEO of Vantage Point Strategies, joins Eric to discuss China's evolving influence in Latin America, the risks of technological dependence, and how the U.S. and regional governments can respond.

Show Notes

• Foreign Affairs - China's Quiet Quest to Dominate Latin America: Small Projects, Big Influence by Natalia Cote-Muñoz

📌 Topics Covered in This Episode

• China's shift from mega-projects to smaller, less visible investments in Latin America
• How subnational partnerships are becoming a key tool of Chinese influence
• The growing risks of technological and infrastructure dependence on China
• Why U.S. efforts to push back against China are often falling short
• Latin American countries' balancing act between China and the United States
• What China, the U.S., and Latin American governments should do differently to manage long-term geopolitical risks

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