Peru's President tells Trump he Prefers 'Bridges to Walls'
Peru's President tells Trump he Prefers 'Bridges to Walls'
“It will be hard for President Trump to dismiss President Kuczynski’s advice on building relationships with Latin America,” points out AS/COA’s Brian Winter
LIMA, Peru (AP) — The first Latin American president to visit Donald Trump at the White House told the U.S. leader Friday he prefers "bridges to walls," sending him a gentle rebuke of his controversial proposal to build a wall along the border with Mexico.
Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a U.S.-educated former Wall Street banker, has emerged as an unlikely leader in Latin America, taking a strong stand against Trump's "America First" agenda while many in the region remain silent.
Kuczynski, 78, characterized his meeting with Trump as "cordial and constructive" and said he told Trump he was interested in the free movement of people — "legally," he emphasized —and also spoke about trade and economic development….
…Despite such past criticism, it will be hard for Trump to dismiss Kuczynski's advice, said Brian Winter, vice president of the regional group Council of the Americas….
…"This is the positive side of the Latin American story that Trump may be unaware of," said Winter. "Because of his biography, but also the success of Peru, Kuczynski may have more credibility than any other president in Latin America to talk straight to Trump."…
