S.Amdt. 3345

SA 3345, submitted by Mr. Curtis, aims to add a new section to bill S. 2296. Its purpose is to strengthen Department of Defense support for economic and security partnerships in Latin America to counter the influence of the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa economic alignment (BRICS).

The amendment requires the Secretary of Defense to work with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, and the CEO of the United States International Development Finance Corporation to create a strategy to secure United States strategic interests and diminish BRICS influence.

This strategy must include:

• Identifying opportunities for economic and security cooperation to support United States investment in countries like Chile and Argentina.
• Promoting security partnerships and trade frameworks supported by investments in dollar-based financial systems.
• Identifying opportunities for public or private entities to develop or acquire strategic infrastructure, such as:
  • Energy facilities, transportation hubs, and key ports in Chile, Ecuador, and Argentina.
  • Lithium processing and mining facilities in the Chile-Argentina-Bolivia triangle.
  • Other critical infrastructure and technologies.
• Expanding security cooperation programs, such as training and joint exercises, to protect infrastructure.
• Providing recommendations for security assessments, infrastructure protection, and counterintelligence to prevent foreign interference.