U.S. Cybersecurity Policy in Latin America amid Sino–American Rivalry

The necessity of ensuring cybersecurity at both national and regional levels has grown alongside the advancement of communication technologies and the increasing number of active Internet users in developing countries. In this context, the United States perceives rising digital vulnerabilities that could negatively affect both Latin American countries and the United States itself. However, research on U.S. policy in this area remains limited, particularly within the context of U.S.–China rivalry in the region. This study aims to identify the specific features of the U.S. cybersecurity approach in Latin America, considering the dynamics of U.S.–China competition. The author introduces several legal instruments issued by U.S. government institutions into the academic discourse. The collection of official documents is analyzed through the lens of Regional Security Complex Theory and neoclassical realism. The analysis reveals bipartisan and public consensus in the United States on countering cyber threats. At the regional level, U.S. policy has been marked by reactivity and the establishment of ad hoc initiatives, regional response groups, and funding mechanisms to address the consequences of cyberattacks, alongside criticism of external actors for employing cyberterrorism. The findings suggest that, in the short term, the United States will seek to establish regional principles for information security based on its own national standards. These principles are likely to exclude or minimize the presence of Chinese-made software, hardware, and network infrastructure in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

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