Standing Up to the CCP in Latin America and Beyond

For too long, China has encroached into the Western Hemisphere, exerting its influence over Latin American regions — especially in the Panama Canal. The Biden administration was asleep at the wheel, funding woke initiatives abroad instead of paying attention to this threat in our backyard.

Thankfully, after facing pressure from the Trump administration, Panama decided to cut ties with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a program through which the CCP acts as a friend to developing nations and then saddles them with insurmountable debt.

This is a major win for U.S. national security and economic interests. I applaud Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Latin America — his first diplomatic trip — which underscores the importance of strengthening our alliances in the Western Hemisphere and countering the Chinese Communist Party’s growing influence. I will continue working in Congress to ensure our foreign policy prioritizes strong partnerships with our allies and a secure Western Hemisphere free from China’s malign intentions.