A recent report from the US Congress revealed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), extending its influence from Argentina to Venezuela, has invested in constructing at least 11 ground stations, satellite tracking facilities, and radio telescopes in Latin America. These efforts are part of a continuous global surveillance and anti-space operation to provide terminal guidance for advanced weapon systems, posing an imminent regional security threat to the United States.
According to the latest report from Bloomberg, with the increasing demand for heavy-duty rockets to launch satellite constellations into orbit, Launch on Demand, based in Florida, plans to invest $600 million to build a rocket launch facility in a remote area near the border of Haiti in the Dominican Republic later this year.
The company’s CEO, Burton Catledge, a retired commander of the US Air Force’s 45th Operations Group who previously oversaw space launch missions at Cape Canaveral in Florida and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, stated that China has been constructing dual-use aerospace facilities worldwide. This project aims to counteract China’s growing influence and infiltration in Latin America, hoping to keep them out of the Western Hemisphere.
Catledge disclosed that the project is a fully commercial spaceport supporting commercial rocket launches without any government subsidies. It has obtained funding from an undisclosed private equity firm, recognizing it as a profitable investment similar to any other port infrastructure.
The global space economy is thriving, with McKinsey estimating that by 2035, the total value of the global space industry will reach $18 trillion, exceeding the approximately $630 billion in 2023 as launch costs decrease, allowing smaller companies to adopt satellite technology.
China considers space cooperation as one of its main diplomatic strategies in Latin America, providing infrastructure and expertise to developing countries in the region. Apart from various types of aerospace infrastructure, Latin America’s two primary commercial launch sites are the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana and the Alcantara Launch Center in Brazil.
A report from the US House Special Committee has confirmed that there are nearly a dozen aerospace facilities related to China in countries such as Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, and Brazil. The report points out that China uses these aerospace facilities to gather intelligence and enhance the future operational capabilities of its military.
According to the US Army University Press (AUP), the United States has at least 76 military facilities in Latin America, including fully-equipped US military bases and facilities for US military operations in host countries. A spokesperson for the US Space Force stated that they collaborate with regional partners and commercial suppliers to achieve US security goals.
Established in 2018, Launch on Demand has designed multiple large commercial spaceports in the US and overseas to overcome engineering and environmental regulatory hurdles. Catledge revealed that the Dominican Republic was ultimately chosen due to its political stability and proximity to the equator. Besides constructing power and water treatment plants to meet base requirements, the company will also provide services to surrounding communities in rural southwestern Dominican Republic.
The Dominican government disclosed that the project negotiations lasted for three years, opening the doors to the global space economy for the Dominican Republic, symbolizing the country’s forward-looking approach. As part of the project’s complementary facilities, the Dominican government is collaborating with the private sector to invest $2.2 billion in constructing an international airport, a cruise ship terminal, and over 12,000 hotel guest rooms locally.