'Keys to the Latin Bank': How an American president could influence development at IDB

WASHINGTON — For the first time, the United States has nominated an American to be president of the Inter-American Development Bank, challenging precedent at an institution that has always been led by someone from Latin America.

The nomination of Mauricio Claver-Carone, White House National Security Council senior director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, came as a surprise to the region, where at least two countries had already floated names for consideration to replace current bank President Luis Alberto Moreno. The Colombian has led IDB since 2005 and is only the institution’s fourth president in its 60-year history.

“It’s going against tradition, against diplomacy, against the real will of many of the partners in the IDB,” said Mauricio Silva, former IDB executive director for El Salvador, of nominating an American. “I am convinced that the economic development of the region depends on the region itself mainly. But the U.S. — it's the main partner.”

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