A Strategic South American Port Could Cement Beijing’s Influence—Unless the U.S. Steps In
As President Trump’s second term approaches the end of its first 100 days, his administration has already prioritized reclaiming control of the Panama Canal from Chinese-linked interests. But a new flashpoint in the Pacific demands urgent attention: CopiaPort-E, a deep-water mega port under development in northern Chile that risks becoming China’s new South American stronghold.
CopiaPort-E, envisioned as the “Rotterdam of the Pacific,” is more than a regional logistics project. Its 30-meter deep-water berth, 8-kilometer natural breakwater, and strategic location in the Atacama Desert make it an ideal hub for bulk exports—particularly lithium and copper—bound for China. If finalized, the project could complete China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) arc across Latin America, giving Beijing dominant control over critical supply chains.
Beijing’s New Beachhead
At stake is not just another port, but the largest private property in Chile, part of the larger Hacienda Castilla estate—850 square miles of land, including real estate, development rights, and environmental licenses. According to the project’s stakeholders, the CopiaPort-E development is designed to accommodate Chinamax-class ships capable of carrying eight times more cargo than current East Coast South American ports.
These ships will enable direct trans-Pacific access for Chinese supply chains, bypassing the Panama Canal and cutting sailing time by more than two weeks compared to current Atlantic routes. The port also boasts connectivity to Argentina through low-grade Andean passes, making it an ideal launch point for bi-oceanic trade.
What makes the situation more urgent is the involvement of St. Matthew Assurance Ltd., a company benefiting from sovereign Indigenous status under the Chiricahua Apache (CAMB) Nation, which has signed an MOU with Chinese interests to develop the project. While this gives the company unique legal protections, it also opens a path for Chinese influence to operate outside conventional U.S. jurisdiction, unless acted upon swiftly.
The Chancay Precedent: China’s $3.6B Peru Port
China’s regional ambitions are already being realized. In November 2024, President Xi Jinping personally opened the Chancay Port in Peru, after state-owned Cosco Shipping acquired a 60% stake in the $3.6 billion project. That port, just 50 miles from Lima, gives China a 60-year lease and dominant shipping access to Peruvian and Chilean lithium reserves—a vital resource for EV production and AI-driven data centers.
CopiaPort-E could be next. Its proximity to Chile’s recently discovered massive lithium fields, as well as its potential as a LNG terminal and Antarctic support base, makes it not just commercially attractive but strategically invaluable. With China already invested in 129 ports worldwide, including projects throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the U.S. must understand this is not simply business—it is geopolitical conquest via infrastructure.
Eco-Port or Trojan Horse?
To deflect scrutiny, developers are promoting CopiaPort-E as an “Eco-Port,” emphasizing respect for Indigenous rights and environmental stewardship. Indigenous groups in the region, empowered by international law, are demanding involvement in lithium extraction to ensure sustainability and water protections. This dual-use positioning—green on the surface, red underneath—is designed to minimize opposition while advancing Chinese access to the very materials that will power its future economy and military.
Trump’s Window of Opportunity
The Trump administration must seize the opportunity before the equity transfer and development rights are finalized. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is already engaged in Panama over canal negotiations, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading talks with Russia over Ukraine. Now is the moment to redirect resources toward securing CopiaPort-E, either through acquisition, partnership, or strategic intervention.
Failure to act would allow China to complete its BRI foothold in the Western Hemisphere—right under America’s nose. If CopiaPort-E becomes a Chinese-controlled chokepoint for lithium, copper, and LNG, it could alter the balance of power not just in South America, but globally.
As Trump works to fulfill his America First vision, securing CopiaPort-E could be the signature win that defines his second term foreign policy—cutting off China’s advance and reasserting U.S. leadership where it matters most.
