Geopolitics
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
Definition
China's massive infrastructure investment program spanning 150+ countries — building ports, railways, power plants, and telecom networks across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Explanation
Launched in 2013, BRI has invested over $1 trillion in infrastructure worldwide. Critics call it "debt-trap diplomacy"; supporters say it fills an infrastructure financing gap. Key projects include the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, East Africa Railway, and Piraeus Port (Greece).