US turns to Guyana’s bauxite in latest push for Latin America’s resources

The US announced it is turning its attention toward Guyana’s abundant bauxite and other resources for business opportunities at a time when the Trump administration is increasingly eyeing Latin American energy and minerals.

US Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg held talks this week with top Guyanese officials, including President Irfaan Ali, in the South American country experiencing an oil boom.

The country’s mass oil reserves discovered in the last decade have increased Guyana’s geopolitical importance, which has only amplified during a global energy crisis caused by the Iran war. Its bauxite reserves are critical for producing aluminum.

The Trump administration has more aggressively focused on Latin America’s resources, from pushing to expand oil production in Venezuela following the US military invasion in January, to pursuing cooperation with Brazil over critical minerals. In a region where energy production seemed to be declining, Latin America is now seeing a reversal of that trend, according to Benjamin Gedan, senior fellow and the director of the Stimson Centre Latin America programme. “In times of global energy scarcity, there’s a great deal more focus on Latin America as an alternative stable source of supply,” said Gedan. “And Guyana is the leader of that story.”

The visit comes amid concerns in the US Government about the Chinese Government and mega companies cashing in on multi-million dollar state contracts at the expense of US companies.