This month, the U.S. is ratifying its commitment to review and reverse China’s nefarious presence in the Americas and beyond.
The dismantling of a Chinese hacking system in Guatemala, the strengthening of military cooperation in Argentina, the interruption of a space project in Chile, the failure of an anti-Trump BRICS Summit in Brazil, and the strengthening of military alliances on the Caribbean are some of the compelling examples of how America is breaking China’s influence in the U.S. backyard.
Oh yes, none of these key achievements were televised on the daily news but still is happening and is changing the geopolitical map in the western hemisphere.
A joint cybersecurity meeting between the Government of Guatemala and the U.S. Southern Command identified that the entire information technology system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been hacked by cyberespionage groups based in China.
But why Guatemala? Because it is the only country in Central America that has said “no” to China and remains firm in its relationship with Taiwan.
This has resulted in a series of economic and political retaliation by China. Thanks to new leadership in the United States, Beijing cyber guerrillas are being exposed and expelled. In a new milestone, the U.S. is supporting a more free and safer Guatemala, helping the Central American nation to fight back against global threats and building a more secure digital infrastructure for regional prosperity.
A Chilean space observatory’s collaboration from China has also been reviewed and reversed. In 2023, China’s communist regime had reached an agreement to participate in the Transient Objects Monitoring Project, an educational initiative that involves the National Astronomical Observatory of China and the Catholic University of Northern Chile.
This was another potential Chinese Trojan horse. The communist regime was rubbing its hands together and seemed to have bypassed all official security controls. But the Trump administration’s accession has changed everything. The project has been halted and subjected to a detailed and exhaustive inspection. The Chilean government has said that the scope of the project needs to be analyzed in full detail, and even its institutional framework must be reviewed.
The U.S. is also strengthening its presence and power in the Caribbean. A military exercise known as Tradewinds 25 began in Trinidad and Tobago a few days ago, bringing together 26 allied nations. The U.S. is also helping to save lives and building strong partnerships.
Just a few days ago a tour by the U.S. Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort was announced. China has never offered such cooperation in this region. The hospital ship will visit Grenada, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic.
The tour will help strengthen U.S. presence in the region and weaken communist efforts such as the so-called medical brigades, a modern slavery scheme promoted by Cuba, China’s most important ally in the Caribbean.
In Argentina, the U.S. has also reinforced its crusade against communist China and highlighted the need to promote greater security cooperation. The head of the U.S. Southern Command, Adm. Alvin Holsey, visited military installations in Argentina, some of which were once on the verge of falling into Chinese hands. Not anymore.
The new U.S. leadership is not looking back. It is closing the doors to China influence in the commercial arena and beyond. The head of the U.S. Southern Command emphasized that they are protecting vital maritime routes for global trade.
Another clear example of how US leadership has weakened China’s influence was seen in Brazil. The foreign ministers of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) attempted to issue a joint statement on President Trump’s trade policies and the U.N. security Council. All failed; there was no joint declaration, but rather a marginal statement from Brazil, the host country.
Although China continues to have influence and power in many countries, its influence is being weakened. Its leadership is being eroded. America is back, and it is not willing to continue ceding ground in the political, trade, security, and energy arenas. Perhaps these transformations are not making headlines, but they are making a huge difference. The geopolitical map is already changing.
Arturo McFields is an exiled journalist, former Nicaraguan ambassador to the OAS, former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps and former alumni of the Security Seminar of the National Defense University and The Harvard and HarvardEx Leadership Course.
