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    • Biden at an IDB Central America forum. (AP)

    Biden at an IDB Central America forum. (AP)

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    LatAm in Focus: Washington’s Shifts on Central America Policy

    By Chase Harrison

    El Faro’s Nelson Rauda covers the Biden administration’s approach to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala ahead of 2021 elections in two of those countries.

    Meanwhile, the Biden’s presidency began with signals of a new U.S. approach toward Central America, following ambitious plans for the region during his campaign. So far, he’s already repealed the asylum agreements with all three countries and plans to implement a $4 billion aid package to the region.

    But the administration’s calculus in the region may change depending on the results of the upcoming elections in El Salvador and Honduras. Rauda described the election in El Salvador as "for Nayib or against Nayib,” in reference to the country’s popular president. Although Bukele was recently denied a meeting with President Biden during a visit to Washington, Rauda did not believe that would factor much into the midterm’s outcome. “The question…is not if Nayib will win but by how much,” he says. He adds that the president’s party is readying itself to wipe out the traditional ones, saying: “if they are the dinosaurs, he is the meteor.” Still, if Bukele consolidates control in this election, Rauda sees a distinct role for the United States to act as check on that power.

    “It is my belief that … what the Biden administration does will be the only real opposition in El Salvador.”

    In Honduras, Rauda says the White House will play a more active role, given a U.S. investigation into Hernández’s drug trafficking links. This scandal, Rauda speculates, could lead to the defeat of Hernández’s party, the National Party of Honduras, in November’s election.

    Still, Rauda was somewhat muted on the prospect that Biden would bring a radical change to U.S. policy in Central America. “It was the other guy's slogan, but it has always been America first,” he says.

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    Katie Hopkins produced this episode. The music in this podcast was performed at Americas Society in New York. Learn more about upcoming concerts at musicoftheamericas.org.

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