U.S. warns it will block funding for Chinese-led projects in the region after Colombia joins Beijing’s global infrastructure push.

The United States announced Thursday it will “vigorously oppose” the financing of projects linked to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Latin America, following Colombia’s decision to formally join the ambitious global strategy promoted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The warning from the State Department came after Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the country’s entry into the initiative, calling it a step that “changes the history of our foreign relations” in a post on X.

During a summit in Beijing with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Xi Jinping presented China as a reliable partner in times of global “confrontation” and “protectionism,” and pledged \$9.2 billion in development loans to Latin America and the Caribbean.

China is already the leading trading partner for key regional economies such as Brazil, Chile, and Peru, and has been working to expand its influence through infrastructure and energy investments across the hemisphere.

But Washington is pushing back hard. In a post on X, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs stated:

"The U.S. will strongly oppose recent projects and upcoming disbursements by the @the\_IDB and other IFIs for Chinese state-owned and controlled companies in Colombia (and other BRI countries in the region). These projects endanger the region's safety and security. American tax dollars SHOULD NOT be used in any way by international organizations to subsidize Chinese companies in our hemisphere."

The U.S. will strongly oppose recent projects and upcoming disbursements by the @the_IDB and other IFIs for Chinese state-owned and controlled companies in Colombia (and other BRI countries in the region). These projects endanger the region's safety and security. American tax…

— Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (@WHAAsstSecty) May 15, 2025

The U.S. is the largest shareholder in the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), giving it considerable leverage to block funding initiatives. Officials have warned that similar actions could be taken in other Latin American countries aligned with the Belt and Road.

Like his predecessor Joe Biden, President Donald Trump has named China as the United States’ top geopolitical rival and has expressed growing concern over its military, economic, and technological influence in Latin America.

In Colombia, China is developing the construction of the Bogota subway, a multi-billion dollar investment project that President Petro has sought to block from the outset.

With information from AFP