Colombia’s China Pivot Raises U.S. Concerns

In May, Colombia made two consequential foreign policy moves aimed at ramping up its engagement with China. As President Gustavo Petro visited Beijing last month for the China-CELAC Forum, his administration announced that Colombia had joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s signature development program. Just a few days later, the Petro government applied to join the BRICS’ New Development Bank, and was accepted on June 19.

Compared to other South American nations, Colombia’s pivot to China is recent and reflects a reactive approach to foreign policy. Brazil’s longstanding and intensifying cooperation with Beijing will be on full display at the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7. Chile signed a free-trade agreement with China two decades ago, demonstrating the benefits of forward-thinking trade diplomacy.

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