And how does Mr. López Obrador’s new government hope to convince Mr. Trump that he should care about investing in Central America? Enter China, or at least the perceived threat to the United States posed by its growing engagement in the region. By privately raising the prospect of China assisting in the new regional development plan, Mexico is trying to leverage the region’s changing reality in its favor, given that it cannot take cooperation with the United States for granted. The approach is also a reflection of the distinct personalities of Mr. López Obrador and Mr. Trump: Both are mavericks — albeit on opposite sides of the political spectrum — and both are willing to break with long-established conventions. “Partly because of Trump and partly because of Andrés Manuel, there is an opening there,” Mr. Wood said.

Source: New York Times December 17, 2018 16:07 UTC