Key facts
- Several Latin American politicians, including Abelardo de la Espriella and Keiko Fujimori, are aligning with Donald Trump's nationalist and populist agenda.
- Trump has actively supported and celebrated the electoral victories of candidates he favors in the region.
- The US National Security Strategy suggests a return to 'spheres of influence' in Latin America, with the US as the preferred partner.
- Leaders like Jair Bolsonaro and Nayib Bukele have previously demonstrated strong affinities with Trump's policies and governing style.
- Financial aid and cooperation on security have been linked to the success of preferred candidates in Latin American elections.
Donald Trump's influence is increasingly evident in a rightward political shift across Latin America, with several leaders adopting his nationalist and populist rhetoric. This trend is exemplified by recent electoral outcomes and ongoing political strategies in countries like Colombia and Peru.
In Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, a businessman with no prior political career, secured the presidency, defeating left-wing senator Iván Cepeda. Trump publicly celebrated De la Espriella's victory, highlighting his support and expressing a desire to work closely with the incoming administration on regional security and immigration.
Similarly, Keiko Fujimori is leading the vote count in Peru's presidential election, aiming for her fourth attempt at the presidency. She has pledged to foster closer ties with the United States and encourage greater US involvement in the region.
These developments are part of a broader pattern that includes figures such as Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, Javier Milei in Argentina, and others across Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Bolsonaro's administration, in particular, mirrored Trump's policies on issues like gun access and vaccine opposition, and he faced allegations of orchestrating an uprising similar to the January 6th events in Washington.
Nayib Bukele has also garnered praise from Trump for his policies in El Salvador, including a state of emergency to combat gangs and his embrace of cryptocurrencies. Trump has described Bukele as a "great ally" and one of his "favourite people."
Javier Milei of Argentina, a former television personality, shares a strong political and personal affinity with Trump. His domestic policies, such as his campaign against the civil service symbolized by a chainsaw, have received backing from the Trump administration, which also prepared a significant financial rescue package for Argentina conditional on Milei's party winning legislative elections.
Trump's administration has signaled a more interventionist approach in Latin American electoral processes, drawing on the Monroe Doctrine to advocate for a region divided into "spheres of influence" where the US is the partner of choice. This strategy has led to open backing of certain candidates, with US aid and cooperation often made conditional on the preferred candidate's victory.
Leaders like José Antonio Kast in Chile face the challenge of balancing strong diplomatic relations with Washington while maintaining trade ties with China. This effort to influence foreign elections, also seen in Hungary, involves Washington openly supporting candidates and linking aid to electoral outcomes.