What could Trump’s return to the White House mean for Latin America?

Analysts say US President-elect Donald Trump’s second term is poised to bolster far-right groups and strain trade ties.

In the wake of the United States presidential election, international leaders have been scrambling to prepare for Donald Trump’s return to the world stage, as the divisive figure takes office for a second term.

But in Latin America, the stakes are particularly high. Trump has already signalled he may lean on Latin American countries to stem the flow of cross-border migration and leverage the region’s economic ties to accomplish the goals of his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) platform, which calls for stringent border security and improving the domestic economy.

Some signs of tension have already begun to emerge, particularly over a threat by Trump to impose 25-percent tariffs on Mexico.

That may be a negotiating tactic, but from bolstering support for right-wing allies to taking a harsher stance on immigration, some analysts expect a second Trump term will generally be characterised by greater willingness to apply pressure to advance US priorities in the region.

Argentina’s President Javier Milei is often compared to Trump. The two have already met since the November 5 US election, and some in the president-elect’s circle see Milei’s cost-cutting policies as a model to follow.