GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — The U.S. announced Friday it is turning its attention toward Guyana’s abundant bauxite and other resources for business opportunities at a time when the Trump administration is increasingly eyeing Latin American energy and minerals.
U.S. Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg held talks this week with top Guyanese officials, including President Irfaan Ali, in the South American country experiencing an oil boom.
The country’s mass oil reserves discovered in the last decade have increased Guyana’s geopolitical importance, which has been further amplified by a global energy crisis caused by the Iran war. Its bauxite reserves are critical for producing aluminum.
The Trump administration has more aggressively focused on Latin America’s resources, from pushing to expand oil production in Venezuela following the U.S. military invasion in January, to pursuing cooperation with Brazil over critical minerals.
In a region where energy production seemed to be declining, Latin America is now seeing a reversal of that trend, according to Benjamin Gedan, senior fellow and the director of the Stimson Center Latin America program.
“In times of global energy scarcity, there’s a great deal more focus on Latin America as an alternative stable source of supply,” said Gedan. “And Guyana is the leader of that story.”
The visit comes amid concerns in the U.S. government about the Chinese government and mega companies cashing in on multimillion dollar state contracts at the expense of U.S. companies.
Guyanese officials have argued that U.S. firms have not been as aggressive as the Chinese, who often offer financing and cater to labor needs for mega projects.
Helberg told officials that bauxite reserves are already known so the U.S. will be interested in the sector. Currently, Chinese operator Bosai Minerals is the dominant player in the local bauxite sector.
“Generally speaking, we both understand that Guyana is a country with a lot of natural resources,” Helberg said of the bilateral talks.
He suggested that the U.S. can also assist Guyana in conducting high-tech surveys to determine what other minerals lie under the surface for development later on.
The U.S. is looking to learn from past mistakes of allowing China to gain a foothold in the region, according to Jason Marczak, vice president and senior director for the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center at the Atlantic Council.
While Guyana is likely trying to diversify its trade relationships, including with China, the visit shows that the country remains a strong U.S. partner in the region.
“President Ali in particular is very close to the United States and in general recognizes the importance of the U.S. as a key partner for Guyana,” Marczak said. “That’s reflected by Helberg’s visit to Guyana."
Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud told The Associated Press on Friday that Guyana is interested in attracting U.S. investors to the mineral, oil and gas-rich country in the coming months.
“The U.S. is our strategic partner and we made that clear to them but we would want value added to bauxite and other products. We are interested in processing and with improvements in energy generation,” he said.
Associated Press writer Anna-Catherine Brigida reported from Mexico City.
President of Guyana Mohamed Irfaan Ali, left, speaks during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (not in the picture) in Toronto, Friday, May 8, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)
FILE - Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg speaks at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, India, Feb. 20, 2026. (AP Photo, File)
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Blake Snell has loose bodies in his left elbow, and the Los Angeles Dodgers' two-time Cy Young Award winner is once again sidelined indefinitely.
The left-hander was a late scratch from his second start of the season Friday at Angel Stadium. Snell only made his season debut last weekend after missing the first six weeks of the season with left shoulder fatigue and inflammation.
The Dodgers are determining whether surgery is necessary for Snell, but he is likely to miss significant time either way, manager Dave Roberts indicated.
“I think right now, anything is on the table,” Roberts said. “We're talking through potential ... what's next. I think at the end of the day, we feel confident that he's going to be back with us this year, either (with surgery or not). But right now, no definitive process.”
Reliever Will Klein was the starter for a bullpen game in Snell’s place as the defending World Series champions opened a weekend Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Angels.
The Dodgers placed Snell on the injured list and recalled left-hander Charlie Barnes, who was claimed off waivers from the Chicago Cubs last weekend. Barnes has a career 5.92 ERA in the majors.
The 33-year-old Snell rejoined the rotation sooner than anticipated last Saturday, allowing four earned runs over three innings against the Atlanta Braves. He had been on the injured list since late March.
But Snell and the Dodgers detected the new injury Thursday while he played catch during his regular work between starts.
“He just felt something in the back of his elbow and just couldn't continue,” Roberts said.
Snell also missed most of the 2025 regular season because of a lingering shoulder injury, making just 11 starts after signing a $182 million, five-year contract with Los Angeles in November 2024. The left-hander eventually returned and went 3-2 in six postseason appearances while the Dodgers won their second consecutive World Series title.
New Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz underwent surgery last month to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. He is expected to return after the All-Star break, but will miss roughly three months after appearing in only seven games for his new team.
Major pitching injuries are nothing new for the Dodgers, who have endured an extraordinary stretch of setbacks for their high-priced staff in recent years. During one lengthy stretch last summer, Los Angeles had 14 pitchers making more than $100 million combined on its injured list.
Tyler Glasnow, another high-priced free agent acquisition who has struggled to stay healthy, went back on the injured list last week with back spasms. He is playing catch again, but his return isn't imminent.
“It seems like every year we go through it,” Roberts said. “What I have learned is we get through it. It doesn't feel great when you're in it. In spring training we're looking at a plethora (of quality pitchers), but in baseball, it happens all the time with pitching, so here we are.”
The Dodgers haven't yet decided how to patch the latest hole in their six-man rotation, but Roberts said a regular bullpen start is a possibility.
“We’re prepared to do whatever we can, but the most important thing is to keep the (other starters) on their schedules (and) not try to push because of circumstances in the rotation,” Roberts said.
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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (7) puts on his baseball cap ahead of the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
