Lima Mayor Rafael Lopez Aliaga, a staunch China ally with presidential ambitions in Peru, is set to travel to the United States for a ceremony marking the departure of a shipment of trains donated by the Biden administration. This move comes amid growing concerns about the United States’ ability to counter China’s expanding influence in South America, particularly in Peru, where Beijing has been actively investing in critical infrastructure and resource projects. According to recent reports, Lopez Aliaga’s close ties to China have raised alarm among U.S. officials, who fear that his political rise could further solidify Beijing’s foothold in Peru’s strategic sectors.
Peruvian news outlets report that Lopez Aliaga, who is rumored to be considering a presidential run in 2026, was in California in late April to attend a sending-off ceremony for a batch of CalTrain locomotives donated to Lima by the Biden administration. The event, which was reported by Peruvian media, highlights the growing U.S.-Peru partnership, which has seen the donation of critical infrastructure to support economic development in the region. However, U.S. officials have expressed concerns that these efforts may not be sufficient to counter the deepening Chinese influence in Peru, particularly in sectors such as energy, transport, and mineral extraction.
The report by Nate Picarsic and Emily de La Bruyère from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) reveals that Lopez Aliaga’s company, PeruRail, has seen its revenue surpass $65 million per year due to increased shipments from the Chinese-owned Minera Las Bambas joint venture, which is backed by state-owned Chinese mining giant China Minmetals. This financial dependency has raised questions about the potential political alignment of Lopez Aliaga with China, which the report suggests has been cultivated for higher office in Peru. The analysts argue that China’s interest in expanding its mineral and battery supply chains in South America has provided it with a strong incentive to secure a key political figure in Peru, further enhancing its strategic position in the region.
In recent years, Chinese investment in Peru has expanded rapidly, with significant projects including the $1.3 billion deepwater port in Chancay, just north of Lima. Chinese President Xi Jinping participated in the opening ceremony of the port in 2024, referring to it as the start of China’s 21st-century maritime Silk Road. This infrastructure development has been a cornerstone of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, allowing Beijing to strengthen its economic and strategic presence in South America. The U.S. government’s donation of trains to Lima, as part of its efforts to bolster infrastructure and economic ties, has faced criticism as too little, too late to counter Beijing’s growing influence in the region.
Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended a previous train donation ceremony in Lima in November, where he praised the project as a symbol of strengthened U.S.-Peru relations and a practical manifestation of mutual beneficial cooperation. However, analysts argue that the U.S. effort may not be sufficient to contain China’s expanding presence in Peru, particularly given the deepening financial and strategic ties between the country and its South American neighbor. As Lopez Aliaga potentially enters the presidential race in 2026, the question remains whether his political ambitions will serve U.S. interests or further cement Beijing’s growing influence in Latin America.