The Donald Trump administration has announced new sanctions limiting the issuance of U.S. visas to citizens of Central American countries who work for the Chinese Communist Party and undermine local rule of law.
Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, issued a statement on the 4th, saying, "We will restrict U.S. visa issuance to citizens of Central American countries who deliberately engage in activities for the Chinese Communist Party and direct, approve, fund, or carry out actions that undermine rule of law in the region." This policy will also apply retroactively to individuals who were involved in such activities in the past.
Minister Rubio added, "As a result, these individuals and their immediate family members will generally lose their eligibility to enter the United States." However, the State Department did not specify which individuals are subject to these sanctions for which activities. For this reason, some analysts argue that the measure is more politically motivated to send a warning to China and pressure Central American countries rather than a punishment for specific illegal activities.
Latin America has been considered by the United States as a 'sphere of influence' since the declaration of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, exerting absolute influence over the region. However, in recent years, China has been shaking this structure with massive capital.
Through the Belt and Road Initiative (land and maritime Silk Road) project, China is deeply involved in key infrastructure projects such as ports and railroads in Central American countries including Panama, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. It has also leveraged economic assistance to encourage these countries to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan and establish relations with China. In fact, Panama (2017), El Salvador (2018), and Nicaragua (2021) cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan and aligned themselves with China.
From the U.S. perspective, this is viewed as a security threat beyond mere economic cooperation. The concern is that China could gain influence over strategic locations such as around the Panama Canal and potentially use it for military purposes in the future. Minister Rubio emphasized that this measure "reaffirms President Trump's determination to protect U.S. economic prosperity and national security interests in the Western Hemisphere."
Experts have analyzed that this visa restriction measure represents 'precision pressure' aimed at China. Evan Ellis, a professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College, told the AP, "The United States is sending a clear signal to the elite in Central America that there will be consequences for doing business with China," adding that it could be an effective means targeting corrupt officials colluding with China.
On the other hand, some voices pointed out the limitations and side effects of the measures. Benjamin Gedan, director general of the Latin America program at the Wilson Center and a former State Department official, noted, "Visa restrictions inflict substantial harm on the targets, but it is unlikely to be a fundamental solution to curbing Chinese influence." He stated to Reuters, "Rather, it could provoke backlash from the governments of those countries, deteriorating relations with the U.S. and pushing them further toward China."