The US maintains its commitment to challenges in Latin America in the face of Chinese influence

USA maintains its security commitments in Latin America and the Caribbean, where there are still many challenges, as well as to curb China’s growing influence in the region, Juan González, special adviser to President Joe Biden, said Tuesday.

On the first day of the Annual Conference on Hemispheric Security, organized by Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, the official acknowledged that, in terms of security, it is necessary to “do more” to counter drug trafficking and criminal groups, in whose fight the United States dedicates one of its largest budget items.

“At present they are vertical organizations, integrated at an international level”, deepened González, director in charge of the Western Hemisphere in the National Security Council of the United States and who participated in the event by videoconference.

The official pointed out that they have increased cooperation with actors and political entities in the region to stop migration, as well as to strengthen strategic competitiveness with a focus on two “critical areas” such as mining and technology.

In this sense, he stressed that they have developed actions to stop Chinese influence, which is very present in the mining sector, and demonstrates “activity” in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and its development in Latin America.

He said that in the coming days they will hold a work meeting in Arizona, where some of the largest chip and semiconductor manufacturing plants are located, whose exports to China have been limited by the United States Department of Commerce due to their military applications and being material. premium of AI-based technologies.

“We want to convey the message that any effort towards integration and good governance will be welcomed by the United States”, added the official, alluding to the recent requests by the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, for a negotiated solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

Lula recently pointed out that his government condemns “violation of the integrity of the territory of Ukraine” and that he advocated a negotiated solution towards peace, after previously criticizing the United States and the EU for providing arms to that country because in this way the conflict with Russia is prolonged.

González also highlighted the military and industrial cooperation with countries such as Argentina and Colombia, for which the Southern Command functions as a support for these aids.

In this forum, which celebrates its eighth edition, the head of the Southern Command (Southcom), General of the United States Army Laura Richardson, participated through a recorded message, who referred to fishing, the logging industry and illegal mining in America America, as well as human trafficking and drug trafficking, as one of the greatest challenges in terms of security.

Richardson expressed his concern about the incessant action of transnational criminal organizations and the reduction of democratic values ​​in the region, which the Communist Party of China takes advantage of.

“China claims to contribute to these countries when in reality it exploits their resources”said Richardson, who said that the United States is working on innovative solutions to these challenges.

In turn, Vice Admiral Alvin Holsey, military deputy commander of the Southern Command, warned that if effective measures are not taken in the fight against drug trafficking, “negative consequences will be seen for decades.”

“We have to be reliable allies in the region”, he added, after highlighting the eight multinational exercises that the United States is carrying out in the region.

Organized by the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy of Florida International University (FIU) and by the Kimberly Green Center for Latin America and the Caribbean (LACC), the HSC will close tomorrow Wednesday and will be held this year under the motto “Partnerships in the decisive decade”.

Source: EFE