Summit of the Americas: Biden’s chance to challenge China

The United States will host the ninth Summit of the Americas this June in Los Angeles, bringing together leaders from North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. In this highest-level forum, leaders reaffirm shared values, promote regional cooperation, and address pressing issues in the Americas. For the Biden administration, the summit could be a platform to discuss priorities for the Americas and strengthen democratic resolve in a time of rising populism and China’s increasing influence.

The U.S. will host the summit for the first time since the inaugural gathering in 1994. Having skipped the last summit in 2018, the U.S. should welcome this opportunity to re-engage and take a prominent leadership role in the region. Additionally, the host nation decides who will be invited to the summit, giving President Biden a chance to carefully consider whether to extend invitations to backsliding democracies. Biden must contemplate the risk of further disenfranchising state leaders and pushing them toward other global actors such as China.

This summit will focus on building a sustainable, resilient and equitable future. The four priority areas have been outlined as health recovery and resilience, a green future, equitable growth and prosperity, and strong inclusive democracies. These topics are vitally important for the Western Hemisphere moving forward, especially since the rise of populism, the pandemic, and migration have made Latin America and the Caribbean vulnerable to China’s growing influence.

Populism was rising in Latin America before the pandemic, on both sides of the political spectrum. In 2021, Peru, Honduras and Chile elected left-leaning populist leaders; Brazil represents an example of the revival of right-wing populism. This has created a weakened political environment that allows leaders to destroy democratic institutions. These dangerous governments, coupled with severe economic downturn, resulted in the exit of some Western investors. The pandemic has worsened this economic struggle, causing severe economic and social impacts.  

The summit could address weaknesses in the regional supply chain in Latin America and the Caribbean, which have pushed these countries toward China through new agreements they sought to prevent the detrimental consequences of the pandemic. China took full advantage, stepping into the power vacuum by leveraging its vaccine diplomacy and Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum Joint Action Plan (2022-2024). As China dominates markets, it strategically acquires assets and silences those in opposition, leading to corruption and potential democratic erosion. 

Migration, although not directly cited among the summit’s priorities, inevitably will be discussed. In 2021, migrant encounters reached a 21-year high at the U.S.-Mexico border. Intra-American migration and refugee flows continue across the region, particularly evident with the movement of Venezuelans. Further, in 2021, thousands of Haitians were displaced by natural disaster, political turmoil and economic hardship. Increased poverty and economic strife ensure that migrant numbers aren’t likely to decrease soon. 

The Biden administration clearly has an opportunity to signal renewed interest in Latin America and the Caribbean, as China continues to expand its engagement in the region. The summit also will present a unique opportunity for leaders in the Americas to focus on democratic resilience, pandemic recovery and migration. Biden can build on momentum from the December 2021 Summit for Democracy, held to counter authoritarianism. Increased commitment to the region ultimately will position the U.S. to better compete against China and to promote the benefits of democracy.

Ciara Byrne is a senior program associate for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Republican Institute. The opinions expressed here are hers alone.