For years, America’s rivals have been gaining influence in our own backyard. Now, President Donald Trump is moving to reclaim that ground. China and Iran have methodically deepened their presence across Latin America, securing strategic footholds that could pose a serious threat to the United States in the event of a broader conflict. Fortunately, this administration has recognized that it is time to restore order in the hemisphere and has made clear that defending national security begins well beyond our own borders.
After decades of neglecting the growing threat posed by hostile powers in the Western Hemisphere, Donald Trump has moved to implement what he calls the “Donroe Doctrine,” a sweeping strategy aimed at reasserting U.S. primacy across the region. In recent weeks, the president unveiled the “Shield of the Americas,” an initiative designed to build a coalition of nations throughout the hemisphere to strengthen security, promote economic growth, and counter the expanding influence of China and Iran in the Americas.
Some may dismiss President Trump’s effort as merely another regional alliance. It is far more than that. While strengthening economic ties with our neighbors remains important, this alliance is ultimately about security. It presents a crucial opportunity to counter U.S. adversaries operating just miles from our shores in places like Cuba, only 90 miles from Florida. At such proximity, vigilance is essential.
China has been especially aggressive in expanding its influence over governments in Latin America. In recent years, Beijing has dramatically increased its economic presence and is now the second-largest trading partner for much of the region. On the surface, this may appear to be ordinary commerce; in reality, it creates dangerous dependencies. Massive loans and opaque financing agreements give China outsized influence over key political decisions in Latin American countries.
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Venezuela is a prime example of the dangerous influence of China in the hemisphere. That country is the largest recipient of Chinese loans in Latin America and has been one of the region’s biggest buyers of Chinese military equipment for years. In fact, on January 3, when the historic operation to capture dictator Nicolás Maduro took place, part of the Venezuelan regime’s defense relied on Chinese‑made air defense systems and radar. For decades, the Venezuelan regime has found in China one of its closest allies, both economically and militarily.
Other governments, including Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina, have also purchased Chinese fighter jets, radar systems, and weapons technology. Even Cuba has hosted training exercises involving China’s Army. These developments give Beijing a growing ability to project power in the Western Hemisphere, and potentially challenge the United States far closer to home than many Americans realize.
Iran has also been expanding its footprint in the region. Venezuela became the first country in the Western Hemisphere to deploy Iranian-armed drones, assembling them domestically with technical support from Tehran. There is also evidence that Nicolás Maduro’s regime facilitated the irregular issuance of authentic Venezuelan passports to individuals linked to the terrorist group Hezbollah. This practice raised serious concerns in Washington, as it created potential pathways for hostile actors to move more freely across the region. As Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned, these developments represent a growing threat to regional security and broader stability in the hemisphere.
China and Iran may differ in many respects, but they share a clear objective in Latin America: to expand their influence in our own backyard and challenge U.S. leadership. Therefore, it is crucial that this administration act decisively to regain strategic ground and halt the advance of hostile powers attempting to encroach upon territories critical to U.S. national security.
Vanessa Vallejo is an economist and political analyst based in Washington, D.C.
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