Countering Global Influence
US Plans Hundreds of Millions in New Global Spending to Counter China's Influence
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The United States is planning to boost anti-China spending around the world by hundreds of millions of dollars, according to AP News. This comes after the Trump administration cut many of these programs last year due to budget and staffing reductions.
One key move: the administration has told Congress it plans to spend $175.8 million to replace aging undersea internet cables in the Caribbean and Central America, according to AP News. The goal is to stop China from stepping in and gaining control of critical communications infrastructure in the region.
US Moves to Replace Undersea Cables Before China Does
Undersea cables carry most of the world's internet traffic. The US fears that if aging cables in the Caribbean and Central America go unrepaired, Chinese companies could move in to replace them. That would give Beijing access to sensitive communications data flowing through the region, AP News reported.
The $175.8 million cable plan is just one piece of a larger effort. The full push to reduce Chinese influence globally would cost hundreds of millions more, according to documents reviewed by AP News. The administration has formally notified Congress of the spending plan.
Anti-China Programs Were Cut Last Year, Now Being Restored
The Biden-era programs that targeted Chinese influence abroad were largely paused or shut down early in the Trump administration. Budget cuts and mass personnel reductions left many initiatives without funding or staff, according to AP News.
Now the administration appears to be reversing course. The new documents suggest the White House wants to restore and expand these efforts. The shift signals a harder line on countering China's global reach, even as other foreign aid has been slashed.
White House Asks Supreme Court to Revive Mail-In Voting Order
The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to let it enforce an executive order targeting mail-in voting, according to AP News. A lower appeals court had blocked the order, and the block is currently in place in nearly half the country.
The White House wants the order in place before the midterm elections. The Supreme Court has not yet responded to the request. The order has been one of the more legally contested moves by the administration on election policy.
US-Iran Talks Show Progress Toward Avoiding War
Diplomatic efforts between the US and Iran have made progress, according to AP News. Both sides have moved closer to resuming negotiations aimed at preventing a military conflict in the Middle East. The details of the talks have not been fully disclosed.
Tensions between the two countries have been high for months. Any deal would need to address Iran's nuclear program, which remains a central concern for Washington. Officials have not confirmed a timeline for formal talks to resume.
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