INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
(Analysis) Colombia and Brazil are courting Chinese investment through Belt and Road partnerships, even as the Trump administration
May 2025 Beijing talks, while Brazil finalized 48 deals worth $94 billion in soy, minerals, and tech transfers
Both nations now face mounting U.S
vulnerabilities-51% of its durable goods now come from Chinese suppliers, and semiconductor dependency reached $4.5 billion
days.It now handles 1 million cargo containers annually
(Photo Internet reproduction)U.S
of its steel exports to the U.S
with 6.5% interest rates and warnings from U.S
Southern Command about potential Chinese naval access.Historical patterns suggest confrontation
markets-62% of Colombian coffee and 72% of Brazilian soy still flow northward despite Chinese overtures.The strategic dilemma is acute
loans for infrastructure require sovereign guarantees, risking debt traps if geopolitical winds shift
choice.They must weigh short-term Chinese capital against enduring U.S
It will weaponize trade terms, sanction dual-use technologies, and amplify opposition parties until hemispheric alliances realign.The real
cost of BRI may ultimately be measured not in yuan, but in forgone American partnerships these economies cannot replace.
