While Trump and Washington focus on renaming the Gulf of Mexico, reclaiming the Panama Canal, "purchasing" Greenland, toppling the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, and Nicaragua, and militarizing and sabotaging global trade, Beijing subtly reshapes the commercial landscape in the Americas. The new Port of Manzanillo, Mexico's Pacific mega-project, is a crucial element in China’s strategic plan for the Maritime Silk Road of the Americas:
Second phase inauguration of the Manzanillo project, November 23, 2024.
.png)
.png)
Mexico's new trade hub on the Pacific, bypassing the Panama Canal.
This expansion, part of a strategic initiative to boost Mexico’s global connectivity, includes specialized terminals, advanced dredging systems, state-of-the-art cranes, and enhanced railway and road infrastructure. These upgrades will enable the port to handle five mega-ships simultaneously, connect seamlessly with interoceanic logistical corridors and commercial routes in Asia, North America, and Latin America, optimize goods movement, significantly reduce transportation times, and improve access for Mexican products in global markets.
By 2030, Puerto Manzanillo will rank among the 20 largest ports in the world.
Puerto Manzanillo will become a pivotal hub for international trade, facilitating direct links with Asia and bypassing the Panama Canal bottleneck. COSCO Shipping’s direct routes further strengthen Manzanillo’s role as a central node in the Asia-Pacific supply chain, positioning it as a strategic partner for Latin American markets.
Mexico is on track to become an economic superpower, driven by a growing population, an expanding middle
class, and a robust manufacturing sector, potentially surpassing the US in the second half of the 21st century.
This connection strengthens Mexico’s role in the global trade network, promoting exports like automobiles, agricultural goods, and steel, and secures its position as a vital link between Latin America and Asia’s manufacturing powerhouse.