Colombia Joins China Belt and Road, Expands Latin America Influence

China has made significant advances in expanding its influence in Latin America, notably with Colombia's recent decision to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), marking the first new member since 2023. This move represents a major shift in Colombian foreign policy, traditionally aligned with the United States, and comes amid increasing tensions between Colombia and the Trump administration, including disputes over deportation flights and U.S. visa suspensions. At the China-CELAC Forum, President Xi Jinping announced $9.2 billion in yuan-denominated financing to participating countries, signaling a renewed Chinese push to regain economic influence in the region after a decline in investment. This strategy aims to capitalize on disruptions caused by U.S. tariffs and strained relations under the Trump administration, seeking to deepen economic integration between China and Latin America. Meanwhile, Latin America and the Caribbean remain overwhelmingly Christian, with growing religious disaffiliation and diversification, including the rise of Afro-Latin and Indigenous religious traditions such as Candomblé in Brazil. These developments underscore shifting political, economic, and cultural dynamics in Latin America amid evolving U.S.-China competition and internal regional changes.