Rubio visits Colombia to counter China's influence in critical minerals

Rubio to press Colombia on China ties during first cabinet visit since Espriella took power

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in the Colombian port city of Barranquilla to sign critical minerals and civil nuclear cooperation agreements with President Abelardo de la Espriella, in the first cabinet-level American visit since the Colombian leader assumed office a month ago.

China's Belt and Road role on the table

Colombia's participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative and Chinese investment in critical infrastructure will feature in the bilateral talks, a Colombian official who was not authorised to speak publicly told the South China Morning Post. The New York Times first reported that trade relations with China would be on the agenda, citing two people familiar with the trip.

Neither the Chinese embassy in Bogota nor the US State Department immediately responded to requests for comment.

Critical minerals pact amid supply chain rivalry

Colombia holds coal, nickel and copper deposits and has been mapping reserves of metals used in batteries and electronics, a supply chain China dominates worldwide. Neither government said in advance which minerals the agreement covers.

Rubio told reporters before the trip that Washington and Bogota share "a lot of common interest, both taking on regional transnational criminal terrorism and also economic engagements". He described the visit as "part of a trend that you're seeing in the Western Hemisphere of alignment with US and US interests".

The Barranquilla stop marks the first leg of a three-country tour by Washington's top diplomat.

Source: South China Morning Post