The United States has once again expressed "deep concerns" about China's presence in Latin American ports, this time focusing on the Santos Port project. Consul Kevin Murakami from the U.S. consulate in São Paulo issued a warning to the Lula government, stating that if Chinese companies win the bid for the "Tecon 10" project at Santos Port, it could jeopardize Brazilian national sovereignty and exacerbate tensions between Brazil and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The "Tecon 10" project is located in Santos, Brazil's most important port city, with four berths capable of accommodating the world's largest container ships. It is expected to increase Brazil's annual container handling capacity by 3.25 million standard containers, elevating the port to the 15th spot in the global container port rankings. The concession will last for 25 years, with bidding scheduled for the second half of this year.

In an interview with the local media outlet A Tribuna in Santos, Kevin Murakami expressed concerns, stating that Chinese state-owned enterprises gaining an advantage in the bidding process could threaten Brazil's control over Santos Port. He emphasized the strategic importance of Santos Port to the United States, playing a crucial geopolitical role in combating organized crime.

Murakami criticized the bidding model set by the Brazilian Federal Court of Auditors, which calls for fair competition. Although the Brazilian National Waterway Agency initially planned to prohibit companies operating at Santos Port from participating in the bidding process, one of the proposals currently under discussion may involve partially relaxing this restriction.

China's COSCO Shipping has indicated interest in participating in the bidding, and the China Merchants Port Group, which operates the container terminal at Paranaguá Port in southern Brazil, may also submit a bid. While the United States is monitoring the project closely, there is currently no interest from American companies in the Tecon 10 project.