China’s engagement in Latin America guarantees it will remain a threat to U.S. national security until the U.S. regains regional power through Americas-based collaboration — a path economic advisers and policymakers must promptly pursue to prevent President-elect Donald Trump’s anticipated withdrawal of development aid and proposed tariffs that could drive Latin American countries to work even closer with adversaries such as China. Failure to pursue such collaboration  risks democratic backsliding in the Western Hemisphere and an economically isolated U.S. that could be susceptible to global conflicts.