SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — In 2021, the Biden administration turned down a meeting request with El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, on a trip to Washington, snubbing the self-proclaimed “world’s coolest dictator” for fear a photo op would embolden his attempts to expand his power base.
A little more than three years later, it’s the United States that’s courting Bukele. A high-level delegation led by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and senior White House and State Department officials, attended Bukele’s inauguration in San Salvador on Saturday to a second term.
The visit — unthinkable until recently — caps a quiet, 180-degree shift in Washington’s policy toward the small Central American nation of 6 million that reflects how the Biden administration’s criticisms of Bukele’s strong-armed governing style have been overtaken by more urgent concerns tied to immigration — a key issue in this year’s U.S. presidential election.
Real Madrid celebrates another Champions League title with its fans on streets of Spanish capital
Kiefer Sutherland reunites with Stand By Me co
Clint Eastwood, 93, reveals the TRUTH about his 'color
Salma Hayek, 57, puts on a busty display as she shows off her chest and tiny waistline in a blue
Britain's Got Talent star The Dark Hero reveals himself to be a British
UCLA scoops up 3 players from transfer portal
Kourtney Kardashian breaks silence on her 'Auntie Karen' Houghton nearly a month after her death
Voting technology company settles lawsuit against far
Red Wings miss playoffs despite 5
Todd Blanche says he was shocked Donald Trump took the verdict with 'solemness'
Cowboys add veteran Royce Freeman, but running back remains a position of need in the draft