Key facts
- Trump's administration has focused on reasserting US influence in Latin America.
- China's interests in Cuba, Panama, and Venezuela have been affected by US policy.
- Nicaragua is identified as a potential next economic battleground between the US and China.
- A scholar warned that Nicaragua could become the next target if China revives its canal project.
US President Donald Trump's administration has implemented policies aimed at reasserting American dominance in Latin America, which have reportedly squeezed China's economic interests in Cuba, Panama, and Venezuela. According to a scholar named Zhang, Nicaragua could become the next focal point in the economic competition between the United States and China. This potential escalation is linked to the possibility of China reviving its ambitious project to construct a trans-Nicaraguan canal, designed to connect the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. While Trump has not yet directly targeted Nicaragua, this could change if such a large-scale infrastructure project gains momentum.