Latynsk-Amearika kearet him ôf fan Washington
May 15, 2026 · Frisian News
Across Latin America, governments now trade more with China than the United States, sign military deals with Russia, and ignore Washington's demands on democracy and human rights. The post-Cold War order in the region has collapsed.
FryskDe hannel fan Brazilië mei Sina kaam ferline jier op 137 miljard dollar, ferlike mei 106 miljard mei de Feriene Steaten. Meksiko ymportearret Sineeske sinnepanielen en healgelieders wylst it him ferset tsjin Amerikaanske druk op arbeid en ymmigraasje. Argentinië sleat foarige moanne in deal mei Sina foar it bouwen fan in kernreaktor, eat wat Washington aktyf ôfwiisd hat. De sifers fertelle it ferhaal: Latynsk-Amearika stopte mei wachtsjen op Amerikaanske goedkarring.
Dizze ferskowing is net nij, mar hat him fersnelle. Sina gie de regio yn as keaper fan grûnstoffen yn de iere jierren 2000. It bleau as ynvestearder, kredytjouwer en strategyske partner. Doe't it Ynternasjonaal Monetêr Fûns besunigingen easke, bea Sina lieningen oan sûnder betingsten. Doe't Amerikaanske bedriuwen gunstige hannelsfoarwearden easken, kamen Sineeske bedriuwen mei bettere prizen. Doe't Washington regearings de les lies oer rjochterlike ûnôfhinklikheid en parsfrijheid, die Peking gewoan saken.
De Feriene Steaten besiochten de koers te kearen. De Biden-regearing lansearre it Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, bedoeld om Sina's Belt and Road Initiative tsjin te gean. It plan bea min konkreets: gjin echte ynvestearrings, gjin grutte kredytlinen en in protte betingsten op it mêd fan bestjoer. Lieders yn Latynsk-Amearika wennen de gearkomsten by en ûndertekenen de dokuminten. Dêrnei giene se nei hûs en kochten dochs Sineeske apparatuer.
Militêre bannen fertelle itselde ferhaal. Venezuela, Nikaragûa en Bolivia fertrouwe no op Russyske en Sineeske wapens en training ynstee fan Amerikaanske. Sels regearings dy't Washington noch altyd as bûnsmaat sjogge, dekke harren ynset yn. Kolombia en Perû keapje drones foar tafersjoch fan Israël en elektroanyske oarlochssystemen fan Europa ynstee fan folslein ôfhinklik te wêzen fan Amerikaanske leveransiers. Se stjoere offisieren nei training yn Sina. Se sjogge Ruslân, Iran en Noard-Korea yn de regio operearje sûnder eangst foar Amerikaanske fergelding.
Wat it Amerikaanske systeem yn Latynsk-Amearika bruts wie net ideology of militêre macht. It wie it falen om resultaten te leverjen. Amerikaanske lieningen kamen mei easken foar besunigingen. Amerikaanske bedriuwen easken goedkeape arbeid en it winnen fan grûnstoffen. Amerikaanske druk op demokrasy betsjutte neat doe't de gemiddelde boarger gjin ferbettering yn lean, skoallen en feiligens seach. Sina frege neat fan dat alles. It boude gewoan havens, kocht koper en liet regearings mei rêst. Foar lieders dy't lilke boargers ûnder eagen krigen, waard de kar dúdlik.
Brazil's trade with China hit 137 billion dollars last year, compared to 106 billion with the United States. Mexico imports Chinese solar panels and semiconductors while pushing back against American pressure on labor and immigration. Argentina cut a deal with China last month to build a nuclear reactor, something Washington actively opposed. The numbers tell the story: Latin America stopped waiting for American approval.
This shift is not new, but it has accelerated. China entered the region as a buyer of raw materials in the early 2000s. It stayed as an investor, lender, and strategic partner. When the International Monetary Fund demanded spending cuts, China offered loans without conditions. When American companies demanded favorable trade terms, Chinese firms offered better prices. When Washington lectured governments on judicial independence and press freedom, Beijing simply did business.
The United States tried to reverse course. The Biden administration launched the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, meant to rival China's Belt and Road Initiative. The scheme offered little of substance: no real investment, no large credit lines, and plenty of strings attached on governance. Latin American leaders attended the meetings and signed the documents. Then they went home and bought Chinese equipment anyway.
Military ties tell the same story. Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Bolivia now rely on Russian and Chinese weapons and training instead of American ones. Even governments that still call Washington an ally hedge their bets. Colombia and Peru buy surveillance drones from Israel and electronic warfare systems from Europe rather than depend solely on American suppliers. They send officers to train in China. They watch Russia, Iran, and North Korea operate across the region without fear of American retaliation.
What broke the American system in Latin America was not ideology or military power. It was failure to deliver results. American loans came with demands for austerity. American companies demanded cheap labor and resource extraction. American pressure on democracy meant nothing when the average person saw no improvement in wages, schools, or safety. China asked for none of that. It simply built ports, bought copper, and left governments alone. For leaders facing angry citizens, the choice became obvious.
Published May 15, 2026 · Frisian News · Ljouwert, Fryslân