US-China competition

Latin America is experiencing heightened geopolitical competition between the US and China, with countries in the region aligning differently based on their economic and political ties. While Mexico and Central American nations are primarily aligned with the US, South American countries like Brazil and Argentina are pursuing distinct global strategies, particularly within the Andean Community comprising Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. China's influence has surged in recent years, especially in trade, as evidenced by Ecuador's increasing exports to China, while Colombia's trade has stagnated. In the Pacific, China, alongside democratic nations like Australia and Japan, is intensifying engagement with Pacific Island countries, highlighted by recent visits from leaders of the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to China. Meanwhile, Africa is grappling with food insecurity exacerbated by the US-China rivalry, as both powers vie for influence over the continent's food security sector. The competition for resources and influence is reshaping the geopolitical landscape, with implications for food sovereignty and regional stability across multiple continents.