Article Metadata
Journal Section
Featured ArticlesArticle Title
Ports, Power, and Politics: Chancay Megaport and the Competition for Influence in Latin America
Journal Issue
Volume 33, 2026Abstract
This paper examines the Chancay megaport as a focal point of contemporary geopolitical competition between the United States and People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Latin America. By analyzing historical patterns of US influence, the rise of PRC's Belt and Road Initiative in the region, and Peru's strategic choices, the analysis demonstrates how infrastructure projects serve as instruments of both economic integration and political alignment. Drawing on hegemonic transition theory and complex interdependence frameworks, the analysis explores how PRC's infrastructure-driven strategy contrasts with traditional US approaches centered on diplomatic ties and governance promotion. The paper argues that while US influence remains significant through diplomatic and cultural ties, China's tangible infrastructure investments combined with weak Peruvian governance create asymmetric dependencies that challenge a century of hemispheric hegemony. The Trump administration's "Donroe Doctrine" represents a rhetorical shift toward resource nationalism, but without corresponding infrastructure financing mechanisms, US warnings about sovereignty costs ring hollow to governments seeking modernization.