China's eating our lunch in Latin America. Trump's new coalition is the cure
Washington has spent too long treating Latin America as a problem to be managed rather than a strategic neighborhood to be strengthened. As the United States approaches the 2026 midterm elections, policymakers should recognize an opportunity hiding in plain sight: expanding the Shield of the Americas into a durable hemispheric partnership spanning security, energy, critical minerals, infrastructure, and trade.
TL;DR
- Washington has historically mismanaged Latin America instead of strengthening it as a strategic neighborhood.
- An opportunity exists to expand the Shield of the Americas into a durable hemispheric partnership.
- This partnership should encompass security, energy, critical minerals, infrastructure, and trade.
- China's economic presence in Latin America has grown significantly.
- China is investing in strategically important infrastructure, including 37 port projects identified in a 2025 report.
- These Chinese-controlled facilities could pose risks to U.S. trade, naval monitoring, and crisis operations.