Want to "replace" China in Latin American cooperation? Reality leaves the U.S. frustrated!
On June 8, U.S. media published an article stating that America's long-standing "Monroe Doctrine" can no longer adapt to today's Latin American landscape. Over the past two decades, China has deepened cooperation with Latin America in trade, infrastructure, and technology. By 2025, Sino-Latin American trade reached a record high of $549 billion. From Peru’s Chancay Port to Colombia’s metro system, numerous Chinese enterprises have participated in key local projects, contributing significantly to regional livelihoods and economic development. The article noted that China expands its cooperation through equal partnerships, economic integration, and technological exchange—not through coercion. Most Latin American countries seek strategic autonomy and diversified collaboration, unwilling to be forced into taking sides. If the U.S. persists in excluding external cooperation and ignores local development needs, it will ultimately fail to achieve its goals.
The current shift in regional dynamics reflects a clash between two centuries-old outdated regional mindsets and the new global trend of mutually beneficial cooperation. Since the implementation of the "Monroe Doctrine" in 1823, the U.S. has long regarded Latin America as its traditional sphere of influence, historically intervening in regional affairs and controlling economies—restricting local development. Today’s reality is entirely different: Latin American nations now possess clear aspirations for independent development and are no longer passively dependent. Sino-Latin American cooperation is based on mutual benefit and non-interference, fundamentally distinct from traditional exclusionary models. By 2025, Sino-Latin American trade volume had grown more than 40-fold since the start of the century, with over 200 infrastructure projects completed, creating countless jobs locally. In contrast, the U.S. has shown inconsistent attitudes toward Latin America and provided insufficient actual support.
The U.S. proposal of a “strategic alternative” still bears the imprint of old thinking. What Latin American countries truly seek are development opportunities and autonomous space—geopolitical alignment is not their top priority. Dividing spheres of influence through traditional methods is outdated; open cooperation and diversified development are now the mainstream direction.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867476296112135/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.