The influence competition between the United States and China in the Americas is becoming increasingly intense. With China promoting the signing of the “Belt and Road” agreement in the Bahamas, the power struggle between the US and China in the Caribbean region has come to the forefront. Various signs indicate that the Trump administration hopes to stabilize America’s leading position in the Western Hemisphere before confronting China head-on.
Recently, a senior US diplomat stationed in the Bahamas publicly criticized the “malicious influence” of China in the region and reiterated that the Bahamas is a priority for the United States.
In December last year, President Trump appointed former football star Herschel Walker as the next US ambassador to the Bahamas. If confirmed, this would be the first time in over a decade that the US has sent an ambassador to this island nation.
This move seems to indicate that the Trump administration aims to “clean up America’s backyard” first before focusing on countering China. This not only aligns with Trump’s “America First” policy but also ensures America’s position in the Western Hemisphere before effectively curbing the global threats posed by China.
Last Friday (February 14), Kimberly Furnish, the acting US Charge d’Affaires in the Bahamas, criticized China during an event in the capital Nassau, stating, “China (China) promises a lot, but delivers very little.”
She reiterated that the Bahamas is a “priority” for the United States because “this is our home.” This statement came after the Chinese Ambassador to the Bahamas publicly urged the Bahamas to sign the “Belt and Road” initiative.
Experts warn that as Panama withdrew from the “Belt and Road” initiative, the Bahamas, located just 50 miles off the coast of the US, should not be overlooked.
Professor Evan Ellis of the US Army War College believes that the Bahamas has not received the strategic thinking and attention commensurate with its geographic location.
The Bahamas, located in the western Atlantic, consists of over 700 coral islands with a population of about 400,000, covering an area smaller than the US state of Connecticut. It is renowned for its pristine beaches and is one of the favorite vacation destinations for Americans.
The Bahamian economy relies heavily on tourism. In 2024, about 11 million tourists visited, with over 80% coming from the US. The US is also the major import partner of the Bahamas, accounting for 84% of imports in 2023.
However, in 1997, the Bahamas severed ties with Taiwan and established formal diplomatic relations with Beijing. Since then, China has continuously extended its influence in the Bahamas through commercial investments, large embassies, and other means.
Hong Kong-based Hutchinson Group has been operating the main port, Freeport, in the Bahamas since 2001. The group is under investigation for operating two ports in Panama.
Chinese companies have invested in building highways, sports stadiums, resorts, and provided a $2.45 billion loan for the largest integrated resort in the Bahamas, Baha Mar.
Overall, from 2005 to 2022, China’s investment in the Caribbean region exceeded $10 billion. Despite security concerns leading to Huawei being banned from the US and many other countries, the company still operates in the Bahamas.
Alexander Causwell, a researcher at the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI), believes that China’s actions in the Caribbean, in part, aim to further reduce Taiwan’s diplomatic allies.
Five countries in the region still recognize Taiwan: Saint Lucia, Haiti, Belize, Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Professor Evan Ellis believes that although the Bahamas is not currently part of the “Belt and Road” initiative, China’s growing influence poses a threat to the US in both peacetime and wartime.
He said, “Chinese companies intend to dominate politically and commercially and establish influential relationships through networks with politicians and businessmen.”
He added that China’s investments in digital infrastructure increase the risk of “espionage activities.”
Ellis believes that in a US-China conflict scenario, China’s port facilities provide it with opportunities to “maintain personnel and military capabilities,” which could be used for monitoring or disrupting US military deployments.
Former Commander of US Northern Command Glen VanHerck expressed concern in 2023 about China’s presence “50 miles off the US East Coast.”
Causwell also agrees that China’s involvement in key infrastructure in the Bahamas remains a significant risk facing Washington.
However, analysts believe that despite China’s ongoing infrastructure projects in the region, the Bahamas is unlikely to heavily favor China under the influence of the US.
Due to the close proximity of the Bahamas to the US, there has always been a strong relationship between the two countries. The Trump administration has pledged to revitalize America’s geopolitical dominance in the Americas. Last week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Panama during his first overseas trip to curb China’s influence over the Panama Canal.
Subsequently, Panama announced it would no longer renew the “Belt and Road” agreement with Beijing. In addition to visiting Panama, Pompeo also visited El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic.
In an interview with the media, Pompeo stated that his mission on this trip includes “not being pushed out of the Western Hemisphere and waking up one day to find that China’s influence over our neighboring countries has surpassed ours.”
Causwell believes that if the Bahamas decides to join the “Belt and Road” initiative in the future, they are likely to face tariffs from the US.
“If the Bahamas joins the Belt and Road, they will immediately face tariffs, which would be devastating for the Bahamian economy,” Causwell said.
The US Northern Command and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force conduct joint maritime surveillance in the region, while the US Navy operates an underwater research facility on Andros Island.
As a major transit country for illegal drugs, US law enforcement agencies assist local police and defense forces in anti-drug operations. The US Customs and Border Protection also provide pre-clearance facilities for passengers traveling to the US at airports in Nassau and Freeport. Meanwhile, many Chinese infrastructure projects in the Bahamas face challenges or pushback due to delays, the use of substandard materials, and legal disputes.
(Some information in this article was referenced from reports by the Voice of America)