US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has warned Latin American countries against excessive reliance on economic ties with China, saying Beijing is establishing “a foothold in Latin America.”
In a wide-ranging speech at the University of Texas on Thursday ahead of his five-nation Latin America tour, Tillerson said the region should stay away from Chinese investment, European colonialism and Russian arms sales.
“China is getting a foothold in Latin America. It is using economic statecraft to pull the continent into its orbit,” Tillerson told a crowd at his alma mater.
“Latin America does not need new imperial powers that seek only to benefit their own people,” he added.
He added that the regional states should protect themselves against “predatory actors.”
The top US diplomat pointed to China, the European Union and Russia and warned Latin American states that the region does not need another imperial power.
Tillerson also slammed Russian…