“The United States stands ready to continue to provide assistance,” Mr. Biden told reporters at the White House. The turmoil presents a potential crisis closer to home, with a possible exodus of Haitians as the Biden administration contends with a surge of migrants at the southwestern border. It is also forcing the White House to focus on the region more broadly after years of indifference — or limited attention — from previous Republican and Democratic administrations. He estimated that more than half of the seven countries in Central America were grappling with challenges to freely elected systems of government. The United States “took Latin America for granted for decades as a source of stability and strength,” Mr. Berg said.

Source: International New York Times July 12, 2021 23:44 UTC