Southern Command’s Richardson Attacks China and Russia in Latin America

Internationalist 360: Southern Command’s Richardson Attacks China and Russia in Latin America Laura Richardson, leader of the U.S. military’s Southern Command, recently called for the development of a new “Marshall Plan” in Latin America to counter the growing influence of Russia and China. Richardson’s call reflects the deep concern of the US over the undeniable loss of geopolitical and economic influence in Latin America. Although she presented the proposal at the forum as a “humanitarian aid” and economic reconstruction effort, it is essentially an attempt to counter the growing presence of emerging powers of the multipolar world in the region. The lack of US attention to Latin America is another weakness Richardson exposed. The dearth of high-level visits creates a vacuum that China exploits, she argues. According to her, regional leaders do not see US investment. In contrast, “all they see are Chinese cranes and Belt and Road Initiative projects.”