More than 8.5 million American tourists visited the Bahamas in 2023.
The Caribbean nation offers pristine beaches, rich history, incredible water sports, delectable cuisine … and some very serious interest from the People’s Republic of China.
Chinese interest in the Bahamas recently made headlines after a hearing in which the commanders of U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Northern Command testified on the “aggressive” expansion of Chinese influence in the Caribbean.
Though the Bahamas have long held a close relationship with the United States, its recent crises have invited influence from other quarters.
Experts estimate that Hurricane Dorian cost the Bahamian economy around one-fourth of its national gross domestic product in 2019, equivalent to roughly $3.4 billion.
The dramatic decline in tourism during COVID-19 further crippled the island chain…
