Biden must oppose pro-China candidate to run international bank, Gallagher says

A leading Republican China hawk is calling on the Biden administration to oppose the candidacy of a Beijing-friendly candidate to lead the Inter-American Development Bank amid the Chinese government’s efforts to increase its influence in Latin America.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) penned a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to oppose the potential election of former United Nations official Alicia Barcena to IDB’s presidency, warning that “her election would threaten U.S. economic and strategic interests in the region by emboldening anti-American dictators while hindering IDB’s core development mission.”