President Biden is set to embark on a foreign diplomacy trip to South America, where he will meet with global leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping. His first stop will be in Lima, Peru, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where he is expected to have a potentially final encounter with Xi as heads of state. Following the summit, Biden will visit Brazil for the Group of 20 summit and will be the first sitting U.S. president to visit parts of the Amazon rainforest.
The U.S.’s influence in South America has been overshadowed by China’s in recent years, experts argue. The country’s policy towards the region has shifted from focusing on political stability to issues of illegal immigration and narcotics. This shift has allowed China to take advantage of the void left by the U.S., with South American countries turning to China when the U.S. fails to establish trade agreements. While the U.S. still holds more trade agreements in the region, China has expanded its influence through investments in infrastructure and resources.
China’s investments in South America include projects like ports in Peru that trade in Chinese currency and satellites in Argentina. The country has also established mineral and foodstuff purchases in the region, potentially in preparation for any conflict in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. has invested in a critical mineral mine in Brazil, but only certain Latin American countries are considered beneficiaries under the current investment mandate.
Under President-elect Donald Trump, relations with South America could further deteriorate due to threats of tariffs. Biden’s upcoming meeting with Xi in Peru will be their third in-person meeting since Biden took office. The agenda is expected to cover a wide range of issues, including military communication, human rights, fentanyl, artificial intelligence, climate change, cybersecurity, Taiwan, and the incoming Trump administration. The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the meeting.
