US mute on China in unveiling ‘ambitious’ Latin America plans at Summit of the Americas

White House instead lays out ‘affirmative vision’ touting democracy, multilateral bank activity and reduced migration at controversial meeting

But officials acknowledge fewer US initiatives in recent years have created vacuum that allowed Beijing to make inroads in region

4-MIN READ4-MIN

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens to OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro (right) during a ministerial meeting at the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Published: 2:56am, 9 Jun 2022Updated: 5:22pm, 9 Jun 2022

Washington is pointedly avoiding citing China by name as it works to unveil a positive agenda for Latin America, senior White House officials said on Wednesday, even as it has tried to sidestep controversy over the guest list at a regional summit this week.

President Joe Biden is focused on strengthening democracy, increasing multilateral bank activity, reducing migration and bolstering the middle class at the Summit of the Americas this week in Los Angeles – despite inordinate attention on Washington’s decision not to invite several leftist-leaning countries.

“Democracy is under assault around the world, let us unite again and renew our conviction that democracy is not only the defining feature of American histories, but the essential ingredient to Americas’ futures,” Biden said. “Let’s get to work building the future this region deserves.”

As the president unveils a series of initiatives during the week, however, he will largely avoid comparing these publicly to China’s Belt and Road Initiative or outsize trading presence, senior officials said.

“The best antidote to China’s inroads in the region is to ensure that we are fording our own affirmative vision for the region economically,” a US official said on background. “That’s why it’s so important that we do lay down a really ambitious, regionally comprehensive, updated vision for the kind of economic partnership we want.”

The US official said fewer US initiatives in recent years had created a vacuum that allowed China to make inroads and pursue projects not necessarily in the best interest of Latin American and Caribbean nations.