Latin America in the crossfire : China-celac forum, summit of Americas and regional diplomacy amid us China rivalry

Abstract

This article examines how Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries navigate the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China, balancing historical ties with the former while deepening engagement with the latter. The region plays an active role in both broad multilateral and targeted regional initiatives for both countries. The paper analyzes LAC’s positioning in the rivalry through three distinct analytic angles: voting patterns at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA); the Summit of the Americas (SOA); and the China-CELAC Forum (CCF). We argue that China’s growing influence in the region can be assessed by the differences of both powers in approaching regional forums, with the CCF filling gaps made by the US’s lack of support for the region’s necessities, such as infrastructure needs. The first section explores the concepts of multilateralism and minilateralism, along with the role of both regional forums. Section two analyzes LAC’s alignment with the US and China through their voting patterns at the UNGA. Sections three and four examine the official consensus documents produced at the SOA and the CCF meetings held between 2015 and 2022. We conclude by highlighting how regional arrangements offer LAC a platform to balance regional concerns amidst US-China strategic priorities.