Beijing: China emphasized on Monday that its relationships with South American nations are not influenced by geopolitical considerations, following the 'Shield of the Americas' summit led by US President Donald Trump in Washington on Saturday.

According to Anadolu Agency, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun addressed a news conference in Beijing, stating that Latin America and the Caribbean countries are autonomous sovereign states with the right to independently select their development paths and cooperation partners. Guo highlighted that China adheres to principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation in its engagements with these countries.

Guo further asserted that China-LAC cooperation is not driven by geopolitical motives, does not target any third party, and should remain unaffected by external influences. His comments come in response to President Trump's announcement at the summit regarding the establishment of a new military coalition known as the America's Counter-Cartel Coalition (ACCC). This coalition aims to confront criminal gangs and cartels across the Americas, reflecting a broader strategy to prevent foreign influence and instability within the Western Hemisphere.

The summit in Washington saw participation from several leaders across the Americas, including Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, and Chilean president-elect Jose Kast.