SWSC(SH:600369) Southwest Securities·2026-01-26 09:10Group 1: Geopolitical Trends - The intensification of global power competition has highlighted the security and scarcity of strategic minerals, leading to a continuous reassessment of their value as core assets in geopolitical games[3] - The U.S. has added copper and silicon to its list of critical minerals and plans to establish a $2.5 billion "strategic resilience reserve" to secure these resources[3] - Strategic resources such as copper, silver, lithium, cobalt, nickel, gallium, germanium, palladium, silicon, tungsten, antimony, and rare earths are expected to experience significant price volatility, especially during periods of heightened geopolitical risk[3] Group 2: Economic Relationships - The U.S. remains the primary trading partner for Latin America, with exports to the U.S. rising from approximately $198.61 billion in 2002 to $599.97 billion in 2023, although the share of total exports has decreased from 57% to 44%[26] - In contrast, exports to China have increased significantly, from $6.5 billion in 2002 to approximately $192.8 billion in 2023, raising its share of total exports from less than 2% to around 14%[26] - The U.S. is still the largest investor in Latin America, with investments accounting for about 38% of total foreign direct investment in 2024, up from 34% in 2023[33] Group 3: Political Dynamics - The political landscape in Latin America is shifting rightward, influenced by economic stagnation and increased U.S. geopolitical influence, with significant elections expected in 2026[6] - The U.S. has engaged in a series of trade agreements with Latin American countries, emphasizing comprehensive, secure, and exclusive frameworks to prevent non-Western competitors from accessing critical assets and supply chains[20] - The Trump administration's "Monroe Doctrine" has re-emerged, focusing on military threats and trade ties to consolidate U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere[12]