Geopolitics And Commodities News

Beijing secures 11% of Nicaragua’s land for gold mining as US influence wanes

Nicaragua has granted 80 mining concessions to Chinese firms since 2023, covering 1.4 million hectares or 11% of its territory. This move deepens Beijing’s strategic foothold in the gold-rich Central American nation, which has received over $1 billion in Chinese financing. The expansion occurs as the US seeks to limit non-Hemispheric influence in the region, while environmental groups warn of potential ecological damage from unregulated extraction.