U.S., Mexico pledge billions in aid to Central America

MEXICO CITY — The United States and Mexico announced Tuesday a bilateral assistance program to curb migration from Central America, signaling an early vote of confidence from the Trump administration in the foreign policy of new Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

The United States announced a total contribution of $10.6 billion, most of which will be allocated from existing aid programs. Around $4.5 billion of that sum comes from new loans, loan guarantees and other private-sector support that could become available through the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. The announcement appeared to be largely a symbolic gesture of cooperation between the two governments.

After two tumultuous years in the bilateral relationship and several tense weeks during the arrival of several migrant caravans, the Mexican government said it considered the U.S. collaboration a positive sign.

The State Department said in a statement that the program would “jointly address the shared challenges of migration, narcotics trafficking, and the activities of transnational criminal organizations.”

The Mexican government said it would contribute $25 billion to development in southern Mexico over five years, which Lopez Obrador has suggested could serve as a source of employment to Central Americans who are granted work visas.

The Trump administration has been conducting a review of U.S. aid to Central America, aiming to reform or eliminate many of the programs launched by the Obama administration. Those programs involved an overall commitment of approximately $2.6 billion in foreign assistance to Central American countries in fiscal 2015-2018.