1、 1 Marubeni Washington Report Marubeni America Corporation Washington Office So Uehara,Senior Government and International Affairs Manager uehara- The U.S.is increasingly integrating private-sector capital into its foreign policy toolkit,aligning Wall Streets financial interests with Washingtons str

2、ategic goals to counter Chinas global economic influence.Initiatives like the G7s Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment,alongside moves such as BlackRocks port acquisitions and the elevation of the International Development Finance Corporation,signal a shift from traditional aid toward in

3、vestment-driven development rooted in commercial viability and geopolitical calculus.Amid intensifying competition over critical resources and infrastructure,the U.S.is embracing a“geo-commercial”modelincorporating elements of Japanese geo-commercial strategy in the mid to late 20th centuryto secure

4、 economic and strategic footholds through public-private coordination.In March 2025,a consortium led by BlackRock Inc.announced the acquisition of key port assets from CK Hutchison Holdings Limited,including a 90 percent stake in Panama Ports Companythe operator of terminals at both the Atlantic and

5、 Pacific ends of the Panama Canal.The transaction comes amid renewed calls from President Donald Trump for the United States to reassert strategic control over the canal,citing Panamas“exorbitant”transit fees on American vessels and growing concerns over Chinese influence in critical infrastructure.

6、Although the deal falls short of restoring direct U.S.control,it reflects a broader trend of private actors aligning with national strategic priorities.By facilitating U.S.-backed control over vital ports,the deal could bolster American leverage in a region of increasing geopolitical competition,eve