Staff Reports
President Joe Biden recently hosted a summit with leaders from across the Western Hemisphere to address several regional issues, including migration, supply chains, and infrastructure investment. This gathering, known as the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders’ Summit, aimed to strengthen economic relations and counter China’s expanding influence in the region.
During the summit, President Biden emphasized the need to provide an alternative to China’s “debt trap diplomacy,” referring to the Belt and Road Initiative. To that end, he announced the launch of a new investment platform by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Inter-American Development Bank. This platform will channel billions of dollars into sustainable infrastructure development, including critical supply chains, modern ports, clean energy grids, and digital infrastructure.
Biden Hosts Summit With Latin Leaders to Counter China’s 'Debt Trap Diplomacy'https://t.co/HijW8kxflm
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) November 3, 2023
The leaders also discussed financing solutions for environmental and climate change projects, such as “debt-for-nature swaps and blue and green bonds.” Additionally, a new initiative called the Americas Partnership Accelerator was introduced. This program aims to support new entrepreneurs in the region by mobilizing venture capital to fund their business ideas.
One of the key concerns addressed during the summit was China’s increasing military and commercial foothold in Latin America. For years, China has been investing heavily in infrastructure projects in the region, becoming a major source of investment and lending. This has raised concerns in Washington about China’s expanding clout and its potential security implications.
Overall, the summit is seen as a unique opportunity to strengthen economic ties within the Western Hemisphere and reduce China’s influence in the region. President Biden and the leaders in attendance expressed their commitment to building meaningful economic opportunities and addressing shared migration challenges. With the launch of new initiatives and increased financial investment, they hope to make the Western Hemisphere the most economically competitive region in the world.
