The administration plans to spend $175.8 million to replace undersea cables in the Caribbean and Central America to counter China.
The administration notified Congress that it intends to spend $175.8 million to replace outdated undersea telecommunications cables in the Caribbean and Central America. This initiative aims to prevent China from expanding its influence in the region and ensure secure, U.S.-led alternatives to Chinese infrastructure. State Department officials noted that while Chinese offerings often appear cheaper, they can lead to cost overruns and poor performance. The project is part of a broader effort to restore funding for programs that were previously paused during budget cuts led by the Department of Government Efficiency. The administration is also considering nearly half a billion dollars in additional spending to counter the Chinese Communist Party's growing economic and technological leverage globally. While President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping maintain a show of cooperation, the administration remains focused on securing national interests. The new program will support undersea cable projects in countries such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Haiti.