WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is organizing a significant gathering of Latin American leaders scheduled for March 7 in Florida, focusing on addressing China’s expanding influence throughout the Western Hemisphere. This strategic diplomatic initiative comes as the administration intensifies its efforts to reassert American dominance in the region.
The summit, confirmed by a White House official on Thursday, represents a crucial component of the administration’s foreign policy agenda. It precedes President Trump’s anticipated diplomatic engagement with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, creating a nuanced geopolitical backdrop for the regional discussions.
Administration officials have expressed particular concern regarding China’s pattern of establishing influence through substantial loans and expansive trade agreements across Latin America. This approach has enabled Beijing to gain significant leverage in several key nations, prompting the U.S. to respond with enhanced diplomatic and strategic measures.
The administration recently demonstrated its commitment to countering foreign influence in the region through its audacious operation targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The operation, which resulted in Maduro’s transfer to New York to face federal drug conspiracy charges, was explicitly justified by the administration as necessary to prevent Chinese and Russian dominance over Venezuela’s critical oil industry.
President Trump articulated this position during a meeting with oil industry officials, stating, “One thing I think everyone has to know is that if we didn’t do this, China or Russia would have done it.” This statement underscores the administration’s view of regional engagement as a strategic competition with global powers.
The administration’s concerns extend beyond Venezuela to include critical infrastructure throughout the hemisphere. Trump has controversially suggested reconsidering U.S. control over the Panama Canal, falsely claiming Chinese operation of the vital waterway despite its management by Panama since the 1999 handover. Recent developments, including Panama’s annulment of a Hong Kong-based company’s port operation contract, have intensified these discussions.
Further demonstrating the scope of its concerns, the administration has raised alarms about China’s control over critical infrastructure in Peru. The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs recently expressed apprehension that Peru might lack proper oversight capabilities over the Chinese-built deepwater port at Chancay, describing it as a “cautionary tale for the region and the world” about the sovereignty costs of Chinese investment.