Mendez, Alvaro 
ORCID: 0000-0002-0919-5081 and Estrada, Gaspard
(2025)
Geopolitical game-changer: China’s expanding role in Latin America’s defense, aerospace, and telecommunications.
In: Farhadi, Adib, Grzegorzewski, Mark and Masys, Anthony J., (eds.)
The Great Power Competition Volume 6: The Rise of China.
Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 185-206.
ISBN 978-3-031-70766-7
Abstract
This chapter delves into the expanding influence of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), with an emphasis on defense, aerospace, and telecommunications. It explores Beijing's pursuit of natural resources in the region and its bid to extend its economic sway there, and how this is reshaping regional power dynamics, notably in relation to the United States. It highlights the PRC's recent strides in the global arms trade, in space exploration initiatives, and in advances in telecommunications technology. It is revealed that Beijing's engagement in these sectors is redefining international partnerships, often placing China in the dominant role. This development is acutely observable in South America: Venezuela emerges as a key collaborator with the PRC in military cooperation and arms procurement, while Brazil's involvement in space and telecommunications reveals a combination of overambition and naivety. Moving beyond merely documenting the PRC's growing presence, the chapter also offers policy recommendations for Latin America and the U.S., recognizing the significant shifts in regional relationships. These insights are vital for grasping the evolving dynamics of U.S.-Latin American relations; they signal major changes in the geopolitical landscape of the Western Hemisphere.
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | © 2025 Springer |
| Divisions: | International Relations |
| Subjects: | J Political Science > JZ International relations T Technology J Political Science |
| Date Deposited: | 21 Jan 2025 14:30 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Jan 2025 16:57 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/126977 |
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