Central to President Reagan's foreign policy was a steadfast commitment to confronting America's greatest ideological rival, the Soviet Union, on the global stage. While parts of the Reagan Doctrine remain contentious, like military aid to Nicaraguan guerillas, his focus on securing supply chains, bolstering alliances, and protecting spheres of influence provides a useful blueprint for addressing today's challenges.
Since its collapse in 1991, the People's Republic of China has filled the void left by the Soviet Union and emerged as our primary adversary. While a hostile Russia continues to vex the United States, Beijing's economic clout and enormous — yet dwindling — population make it a formidable foe. But as the Soviets sought to spread communist ideology through backing revolutionaries abroad, China's aims are more pragmatic and subtle. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) focuses on undermining America's access to vital resources and eroding our economic partnerships around the world, empowering autocracies in any shape or form.
China's strategy to undermine American influence has found its most ambitious project with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This vast infrastructure and investment program, launched in 2013, represents Beijing's attempt to reshape the global economic order in its favor. While often touted as a benign development scheme, the BRI is, in reality, a geopolitical chess move that America must vigorously counter.
In particular, China’s efforts in our own “backyard,” the Western Hemisphere, should set off alarm bells in Washington just as the Soviet presence in Cuba and Nicaragua once did. From the State Department to the Pentagon, China’s nuclear activities in Argentina, notably the stalled Atucha III nuclear power plant, demands a firm recommitment to the Reagan Doctrine. While currently not progressing due to financing complications, Beijing’s steps to establish a firm foothold in Argentina's critical energy infrastructure should spark serious considerations for the United States. The strategic implications of Chinese control over nuclear resources in our hemisphere cannot go unaddressed. As heightened global energy prices have proven, careful supply chain coordination is critical to the prosperity of America.
The election of Javier Milei as Argentina’s president presents a unique opportunity for the United States to counter China’s growing influence in South America. Milei's free-market ideology aligns closely with American values, offering a chance to strengthen our diplomatic relationship. Contrasting with the China-friendly positions of his predecessor, Alberto Fernández, who approved the Atucha III project, Milei promised to “not negotiat[e] with communists.”
However, American conservative leadership should not leave the chainsaw-loving libertarian to his own devices. While Milei represents a welcomed rightward ideological shift in Latin American politics, it appears he is not privy to the United State’s consensus hawkishness on China. After critiquing Beijing heavily during his campaign, Milei shied away from his promises of economic decoupling since reaching the presidency.
Whether it's Donald Trump and J.D. Vance in the White House, or Mike Gallagher and Nikki Haley at the Hudson Institute, outspoken Republicans must hold the Argentinian president's feet to the fire. They must clearly articulate that economic cooperation with China in national security sensitive industries, like nuclear power and lithium mining, poses a serious risk. Rather, Buenos Aires should look north to the United States for foreign direct investments, trade agreements, and other grandiose infrastructure developments.
The choice for Argentina between aligning with American or Chinese influence is a pivotal one, harkening back to the geopolitical rivalries of the Cold War. On one side, the United States offers the promise of democratic values, transparent partnerships, and mutual respect for sovereignty. On the other, China’s authoritarian model poses a direct threat to the principles of self-determination that have long bound America and Argentina. Nations like Argentina deserve a choice that truly serves their own national interests, not the economic coercion of the CCP.
This is not just some abstract clash of ideologies. The future direction of Argentina, and indeed the entire Western Hemisphere, hangs in the balance. Will Buenos Aires choose the beacon of liberty in the north, or succumb to Beijing’s autocratic overtures? The stakes could not be higher.
The strategic implications of allowing Chinese control over energy resources in Argentina are profound. Doing so compromises regional security and fundamentally harms American interests. Chinese-controlled energy infrastructure could provide the CCP with intelligence or wind up a bargaining chip in future geopolitical disputes. Moreover, China's growing influence in Argentina's energy sector could serve as a springboard for further expansion in South America, cutting access to resources in a closer geographic proximity than the Middle East.
Peeling Argentina away from China will require the United States to offer trade offs. Luckily for Washington, America's nuclear technology remains unparalleled — a testament to our culture of innovation and scientific prowess. By offering this expertise to Argentina, through careful educational and informational exchange, we can elevate both nations to set a new standard of responsible nuclear development in the Western Hemisphere.
To counter China’s seemingly generous, but often predatory, loan offerings, the United States should pursue reinvigorated trade negotiations with Buenos Aires. By leveraging our economic strength and negotiating prowess, the U.S. can effectively limit China's expanding influence in the region. In doing so, we can promote a secure and prosperous future for the Western Hemisphere — one that aligns with our own national interests, rather than those of authoritarian adversaries.
With foreign policy taking center stage in this election, now is the perfect moment for American leaders to reaffirm their commitment to working with our southern neighbors. The next president must renew our ties with Argentina both out of strategic necessity and to uphold our moral obligation to preserve our shared values of free markets and democratic governance.
The Reagan Doctrine serves as a crucial reminder that we must resist authoritarianism within our own hemisphere. As we face similar challenges today, the United States must embrace a principled and resolute approach. We must ensure the future of our region is characterized by liberty and cooperation, rather than the creeping influence of authoritarian regimes. Now is the time for America to reclaim its legacy as a defender of freedom and to prioritize genuine partnerships rooted in shared values.
Sam Raus, a recent graduate of the University of Miami, is a writer with Young Voices. Follow him on X: @SamRaus1
