🔆Colombia officially joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 📍What is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?  ✅BRI is an international strategy aimed at improving global connectivity and cooperation. ✅Launched in:  2013, it connects Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Gulf region through land and sea routes. ✅Known as: Originally called ‘One Belt, One Road’, later renamed Belt and Road Initiative to reflect inclusivity. 📍Consists of two major components: Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road. ✅Silk Road Economic Belt: Focuses on developing roads, railways, and trade routes across Eurasia. ✅Maritime Silk Road: Strengthens port infrastructure, shipping routes, and maritime cooperation, linking South China Sea, Indo-China, South-East Asia, the Indian Ocean, Africa, and Europe. 📍China’s Economic Influence & US Concerns ✅China is now the largest trading partner of several Latin American countries (Brazil, Chile, Peru). ✅China is expanding its footprint through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), while the U.S. views Chinese presence near strategic locations like the Panama Canal as a national security threat. #gs2 #ir #prelims L