'We should be very concerned': Washington acknowledges Beijing's strength in Latin America.
US military commanders warned the American Congress that China is increasing its influence in Latin America with ambitious investment projects.
Sputnik - The commander of U.S. Southern Command, Laura Richardson, and the commander of Northern Command, Glen VanHerck, commented on the growing Chinese influence in Latin America during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee.
"China has expanded its capacity to extract resources, establish ports, manipulate governments through predatory investment practices, and build potential dual-use space facilities," Richardson warned.
Furthermore, the commander asserted that the United States "should be very concerned about Chinese investment throughout the Western Hemisphere."
Glen VanHerck, in turn, cited the Chinese presence in Mexico, where Huawei controls 80% of telecommunications, and in the Bahamas, where the US has had no representative since 2011 and where Beijing inaugurated the largest embassy in the region.
Another factor highlighted by the commander was the Belt and Road Initiative, a Chinese plan that includes various commercial and infrastructure projects around the world.
"They are 20 yards [18 meters] from our homeland's border. We need to pay more attention to the region. Proximity is important. We are a neighborhood, these are our neighbors, and we need to pay attention," the commander declared.