This article was originally published in the Center for Strategic and International Studies on October 31, 2023. From September 24 to 28, the author traveled to Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, as a guest of Funglode, one of the country’s leading think tanks, to speak about security challenges in the [ … ]
Academia
China, Threat to Institutions, Democracy, Transparency, says International Republican Institute Analyst
The presence of the People’s Republic of China in Latin America is extremely dangerous for transparency and democratic institutional structure in the countries of the region due to China’s affinity with dictators and its willingness to make corrupt deals with politicians in Latin America, said Matt Schrader, International Republican Institute [ … ]
The New Silent War: China and Russia’s Military Training and Weapons in Latin America’s Terrain
In recent decades, the geopolitical scenario in Latin America has undergone significant changes, particularly in the area of military training and arms trade. While the region has historically maintained close relations with NATO powers, the growing involvement of China and Russia signals a change in the security and defense landscape. [ … ]
Insights from Comparing PRC Engagement in Africa and Latin America
This article was originally published in The Diplomat on October 21, 2023. On October 12-13, 2023, the Jack D. Gordon Institute of Florida International University (FIU) hosted an event bringing together Africa and Latin America scholars, to comparatively examine engagement with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) across both [ … ]
Russian Propaganda and Disinformation
“Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” – Sun Tzu “The Art of War,” written by Sun Tzu in roughly the fifth century B.C., calls for military commanders to avoid direct confrontation, reminding the [ … ]
The Expanding Leverage of the People’s Republic of China in Latin America: Implications for US National Security and Global Order
ABSTRACT This article examines the growing influence operations conducted by the Chinese Communist Party-led government in Latin America, presenting strategic risks to US national security and global order. The author highlights the surprising breadth and scale of China’s influence, encompassing economic entanglements, critical infrastructure investments, coercive diplomacy, and information control. [ … ]
Triads, Snakeheads, and Flying Money: The Underworld of Chinese Criminal Networks in Latin America and the Caribbean
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) continue to grapple with some of the highest rates of violence and corruption in the world, particularly due to the corrosive presence of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). Notorious regional TCOs continue to sell drugs worldwide, kill with impunity, bribe local officials, terrorize [ … ]
Mexico’s Engagement with China and Choices for Its Future
Introduction As Mexico looks to national elections in June 2024, the expanding engagement that the country is backing into with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will have profound implications for the country’s future, as well as the United States and the rest of the region. Background Mexico’s relationship with [ … ]
PRC Engagement in The Bahamas
Introduction In his March 2023 annual posture statement to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, head of U.S. Northern Command General Glen VanHerck referred to the substantial commercial and other presence of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the Bahamas as “efforts to gain a foothold only 50 miles [ … ]
Chinese Private Security Companies in Latin America
This article was originally published on The Diplomat on July 17, 2023. The enormous expansion of global engagement by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its companies over the past two decades has generated a corresponding need to protect Chinese operations and personnel in the dangerous environments where they [ … ]
Red Flags Among Golden Passports: An Analysis of Chinese Influence In Five Caribbean Citizenship By Investment Programs
This work was first published in March 2023 by the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy, part of Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School for International and Public Affairs. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This paper explores the extent wealthy Chinese Citizenship by Investment (CBI) holders in the Caribbean use their [ … ]
Russia’s State Media Has A Credibility Problem
This article was originally published on Per Concordiam. Russia’s state-sponsored media is in a difficult position. The increasingly unbelievable narratives coming out of the Russian Federation regarding actions in Ukraine have created a credibility crisis for organizations like Russia Today (RT), Sputnik and the Russian News Agency (TASS), among others. The [ … ]