I have read it, but I'm still pretty sure Bukele is still alive and a free man because of the insignificance of his little country and its resources.
If Australia tried this, or (good heavens!) Qatar or Bahrain, there would be trouble...
Discussion
I don't think it's because they are small. The IMF has done worse to smaller places. ES has some interesting friends these days.
Honestly, the Trump administration's tepid reaction is as weird as the IMF's.
Has El Salvador seceded from the Monroe Doctrine?
Its not like China could do anything to defend them, or would even actually care. China can buy coffee and soybeans in lots of places.
Here's something to think about. China could be fighting asymmetrical warfare. If MS-13 is spending too much time on American law enforcement radar, China could have stopped the flow of MS-13 into the US in favor of the Venezuela gangs. In addition, just like in Africa, ES gives China an unobtrusive foothold in the Western Hemisphere.
Mmmm?
USA LE could stop MS-13 any time they wanted to, its not like their tradecraft is particularly novel. And USA LE undoubtedly has deeper relationships with regional security forces, and probably their hardware, that they can leverage and China cannot.
China is buddies with Cuba and Venezuala already, who are much more defensible against US invasion. Not that China minds new friends, but I'm not seeing a compelling interest to justify taking the slightest risk.
I'm still baffled.
Maybe somebody close to Trump really didn't give a toss for El Salvador and decided to sabotage agency efforts to get involved?
If the Trump's administration's tepid reaction was weird, what sort of reaction would have made more sense?
Erm, bombing? Allegations of drug trafficking and money laundering? Links to Hizbollah, Putin and Hillary, all at once? The usual.
Don't get me wrong, I'm very glad the Trump administration didn't Noreiga him. It's a break with tradition, and one I approve of.