The United States has raised alarms regarding China's increasing financial influence in Latin America, specifically highlighting concerns over Peru's management of its significant Shankai port. An official statement from the U.S. account on Western Hemisphere affairs expressed apprehension that Peru might lose full oversight of this vital facility due to Chinese companies controlling its operations. The U.S. emphasized supporting Peru's sovereign right to manage its critical infrastructure, warning that reliance on cheap Chinese loans could compromise national sovereignty.

This warning comes amid a broader escalation of U.S. rhetoric against Chinese investments in key sectors such as ports, energy, and telecommunications across Latin America. Washington views these sectors as critically sensitive to national security and strategic interests, particularly in light of China's Belt and Road Initiative's expansion within the continent. The U.S. has adopted a more aggressive stance, framing Chinese and Russian presence in the region as direct threats to American national security.

Under the previous administration, particularly President Donald Trump's, there was a distinct focus on applying maximum pressure on leftist governments in the region, including those in Venezuela and Cuba, through economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The growing influence of external powers like China and Russia in Latin American affairs has thus become a focal point of U.S. foreign policy, indicating a concerted effort to counter perceived threats in its strategic backyard.