U.S. Diplomacy Shifts with Meeting Between Kushner and Mexican President

On Wednesday, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, conducted a meeting with Mexican president. This meeting was in place to ease tensions between Washington and Mexico City as Trump’s proposal of a border wall has provoked bitterness and anger from President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The two presidents have attempted to meet twice and canceled both times, leading up to increasing tension between the two countries. However, Trump administration might be shifting its strategy with Mexico and the broader region, as signaled by this peaceful meeting between Mr. Kushner and President Pena Nieto.

However, the visit seemed abrupt and the American ambassador, Roberta S. Johnson, was not invited to the meeting, which “is not the way foreign policy normally is, or should be, conducted”, according to Christopher Sabatini, a lecturer at Columbia University. He stated that Mr. Kushner’s personal relationship with the president along with his zero experience in Mexican-U.S. relations, made this meeting extremely unprofessional, which might hurt U.S. interests and leverage in its diplomacy.

Since Trump Administration, the United States have developed increasing hostility and tension with a number of Latin American countries, including public disputes with Mexico, threats to cut relations with Cuba, the exit from Trans-Pacific Partnership and hints of intervention in Venezuela. Even though we could not confirm the relation of causation, three of the most experienced diplomats on Latin America in the State Department has resigned, including Tom Shannon, John Feeley and Mrs. Jacobson.

These hostile diplomatic stances and measure have been astray from past US policies towards the region for the past two decades since the end of Cold War. The United States have been striving to become less intrusive and build more alliances with those countries. The Trump administration has reversed all these efforts with its animosity.

Many have expressed concerns and wariness towards Trump’s attitudes towards Latin America as Jeffrey Davidow, a former American ambassador to Mexico and Venezuela, said that he was not sure “if the new administration if just turning back the clock or just doesn’t give a damn.”

However, experts speculate that these diplomatic decisions may be driven by domestic motives. Considerations to cut relations with Cuba sprang forth from Trump’s attempt to cater to supporters in Florida and distance the country from Cuba’s Communist government. His proposal of border wall also meant to fulfill promises he made during his election campaign, in response to his supporters’ frustration with immigration and jobs.

Besides Latin America, South America’s relationships with the United States have also been unstable and shifted from the previous administration. Trump’s wide-ranging sanctions against Venezuela and suggestion of potential intervention has invoked great fear and suspicion in Venezuela, as its economy could fall apart completely under hostile US trade measures.

Colombia, despite being the largest, strongest American ally in the region, has also felt increasing US pressure. American diplomats and Colombian presidents in the past have agreed on waging the drug war with targeted crackdowns against drug traffickers and improvement measures of Colombian citizens. However, Trump administration suggested otherwise and shifted its focus to cracking down its coca production, instead of implementing plans to help domestic economic growth and trade measures in Colombia. Policies have become increasingly drug-oriented, imposing a strain on the relationship between the U.S. and Colombia, which have had great alliance in the past two decades.

President Trump’s agenda in Latin America and South America remains unclear; meanwhile, the countries in the region continue to be on their toes regarding their economic and political relationship with the United States under this new administration.

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