Venezuela, China and Russia, main “challenges” for US cooperation in Latin America

The administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Samantha Power, justified this Wednesday before the United States Senate that the priorities of US cooperation are focused on containing the influence of China and Russia advancing in Latin America and the world, coupled with the crisis in Venezuela whose multiple effects continue to pressure the American continent with migrations.

The official in charge of the US cooperation portfolio explained to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the scope of the strategic work of the US to lead efforts to contain the influence of the Eurasian powers, mainly those led by the Russian Vladimir Putin and the Chinese Xi Jinping.

“If we do not lead efforts to meet the challenges, the PRC and Putin stand ready to intervene, either through opaque loans on unfavorable terms, or with mercenaries,” Power said.

The head of USAID is referring to the plans led by President Xi and his Russian counterpart to open fronts in Latin America, historically a zone of influence of the United States, and where both countries have penetrated; one with financing portfolios and the other with diplomatic overturesespecially in countries resistant to US influence such as Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, where Russia has more presence.

The Venezuelan Diaspora

At the regional level, the crisis in Venezuela is to date a serious challenge for the Latin American United States due to the irregular migratory waves that generate “strong pressure” in several South American countries and even as far as the southern border of the United States, the official explained.

The chairman of the committee, Democrat Bob Menéndez, questioned the official about the achievements of the work with Colombia and other countries in the hemisphere to reduce migration. The South American country has absorbed more than 2 million Venezuelan migrants.

One year ago, through USAID, Washington disbursed about 40 million of dollars to direct the “Integra” plan in Colombia, focused on strengthening Venezuelan migration management in the coffee-growing country and to facilitate a “sustainable integration” and transversal to all sectors of the society of the newcomers.

From both benches of the US Upper House questions came to the USAID administrator about the announced progress and priorities on the issue of refugees and migrants, who number “by the millions” in the American continent -beyond the Venezuelans- and about all because of the pressure on the southern border of the northern power.

Chinese shadow

The leader of the Republican minority in the Foreign Committee, Jim Rish, rejected several items of the budget of 32,000 million dollars requested for 2024 with which the Biden Administration seeks to face and counterbalance Chinese and Russian penetration in the Western Hemisphere and other latitudes to contain the “threats” to the United States.

“This budget seems written to appease progressive goals at home rather than meet crucial needs abroad. This imbalance makes it really hard to support,” Senator Rish opined.

The legislator argued that the administration of President Joe Biden continues to focus on promoting green and clean energy, with which the US is pushing developing countries, a large part of Latin America, to Chinese investments.

“It is clear, we have a very steep slope to climb when it comes to aligning priorities and resources, I hope we can reach a resolution on this,” said the head of the Republican minority in the legislative body that deals with foreign affairs.

In more than hours of hearing by the committee, the head of USAID also put on the table for discussion with the committee the threats to democracy that in all parts of the world “are under attack” and where the United States identifies weaknesses.

“It’s a daunting list of challenges. And I recognize some doubts about whether the United States should be taking on these challenges through our development investments, or whether the scope of the challenges is too great to make a significant difference,” Power said.

China has reiterated in reference to its Latin American agenda that it is willing to “join efforts” with the countries of the continent to “work together” in a world of opportunities.

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