Biden Hosts Summit With Latin Leaders to Counter China’s ‘Debt Trap Diplomacy’

The president announced the formation of a new investment platform that will channel billions of dollars to sustainable infrastructure development.

(L-R) Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, U.S. President Joe Biden, Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou, and other leaders attend the plenary session of the inaugural Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders' Summit in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on Nov. 3, 2023. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President Joe Biden welcomed leaders from the Western Hemisphere to the White House on Friday for a summit to discuss regional issues including migration, supply chains, and infrastructure investment amid concerns over China’s increasing military and commercial footprint in the region.

According to the White House, nine of the summit’s 11 leaders are participating, including the prime minister of Canada and presidents from Barbados, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay. Foreign ministers from Mexico and Panama are also attending.