Trump convenes Latin American leaders in Florida to counter China’s regional reach
March 7 – U.S. President Donald Trump will host several Latin American leaders in Florida on Saturday for a summit aimed at strengthening security, migration and economic cooperation while countering China’s expanding influence across the region, according to officials and policy analysts.
The gathering, dubbed the “Shield of the Americas,” comes as Washington seeks to deepen ties with governments aligned with Trump’s policies on crime, migration and economic liberalisation. The meeting also takes place just weeks before Trump is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing later this month.The summit occurs against the backdrop of growing Chinese economic engagement in Latin America, where trade between China and the region reached a record $518 billion in 2024, according to data cited by U.S. analysts.
Among the leaders expected to attend are Argentine President Javier Milei, Chile’s president-elect Jose Antonio Kast and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.Several of the participating leaders share policy positions with Trump on crime enforcement, migration control and pro-market economic policies. Analysts say their participation reflects a broader shift toward conservative politics in parts of Latin America.Bukele’s security policies in El Salvador, including a sweeping crackdown on criminal gangs, have drawn criticism from human rights organisations but have also been cited by some regional leaders as a model for tackling organised crime.Many governments attending the summit favour stricter law-and-order approaches to crime and migration, prioritising enforcement measures alongside economic policies that promote private sector investment .
The Trump administration views the summit as part of a broader effort to strengthen Washington’s strategic position in the Western Hemisphere at a time when Beijing has expanded trade, infrastructure investment and lending across Latin America.Ryan Berg, who heads the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, wrote this week that the gathering marks the first time in Trump’s second term that Washington has convened a group of Latin American leaders in this format.The event also gives the administration an opportunity to demonstrate regional leadership while the United States faces geopolitical pressures elsewhere, including tensions in the Middle East following recent U.S. military strikes on Iran.
Trump said earlier this week that Kristi Noem would serve as special envoy for the “Shield of the Americas” initiative. Noem previously served as secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security until Trump removed her from the role amid mounting criticism from members of Congress.Officials say the summit will focus on coordinating policies on regional security, migration management and economic cooperation as Washington attempts to reinforce partnerships in a region increasingly shaped by competition between the United States and China.
