Wed May 14 16:17:02 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Colombia Joins China’s Belt and Road Initiative Amidst US-China Rivalry in Latin America**
**Beijing, May 14, 2025** – Colombia formally joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on Wednesday, marking a significant expansion of China’s influence in Latin America and escalating the competition between Beijing and Washington in the region.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing, where President Xi Jinping urged enhanced cooperation between the two countries. Colombian President Gustavo Petro hailed the move as a “historic step” promising new opportunities for investment and development, stating that Colombia would now interact with the world “on a footing of equality and freedom.”
China has surpassed the United States as the largest trading partner for many Latin American nations, with the BRI offering substantial investment in infrastructure projects. Xi pledged $9.2 billion in credit towards development in the region, with initiatives focused on infrastructure, clean energy, counterterrorism, and educational exchanges.
The development occurs amidst growing tensions between the US and China in Latin America, particularly concerning trade and infrastructure. The US has expressed concerns regarding China’s growing influence, particularly regarding control over key infrastructure like the Panama Canal. China, however, has positioned itself as a defender of multilateralism and the Global South, criticizing “unilateralism and protectionism.”
Brazilian President Lula da Silva, also present at the forum, cautioned against a new Cold War, emphasizing the region’s desire to contribute to a multilateral global order.
This move signals a deepening alignment between China and Latin American nations, with potential implications for regional and global geopolitics.
First Piper 