Chile for decades finessed the geopolitical rivalry between China, its top trading partner, and the US, its leading foreign investor.
Those days seem to be over.
Just days ahead of a summit of Latin American leaders in Miami and two weeks before a right-wing government takes over in Santiago, the US imposed visa restrictions on three Chilean officials tied to an undersea digital cable project proposed by Chinese firms, alleging a security threat. The rare move sent a warning to the region that it must now choose sides as President
Container ships at the Port of Arica in Arica, Chile.
Photographer: John Moore/Getty Images