Home / Technology
Why Chile became newest battleground in US-China power struggle in LATAM
The dispute arises shortly before the Latin American leaders' summit in Miami
Chile has recently become embroiled in a US-China power struggle, marking the latest development in Latin America.
The nation, with Washington as its main foreign investor and Beijing as its principal trade partner, is under White House scrutiny over a submarine cable initiative linked to China.
In an unexpected announcement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced late last week that the Trump administration plans to implement visa bans on three Chilean officials involved in a digital cable endeavor proposed by Chinese companies, citing security concerns.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who will exit office on March 11, criticised the visa bans, denying that the country "supports any measures which endanger our security or that of the area."
The outgoing leftist government of Chile later confirmed that one of the officials targeted by the sanctions is the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Muñoz, but did not disclose the names of the other two.
The US ambassador to Chile, Brandon Judd, backed the visa bans on Monday, stating to the press that it is within Washington's "sovereign rights to react when we sense regional security is under threat," as per The Associated Press.
This dispute unfolds just before a summit of Latin American leaders in Miami, Florida, and a few weeks ahead of the assumption of Chile's new right-wing government in Santiago.