PNN – The Foreign Policy magazine evaluated the aggressive approach of US President Donald Trump in the Latin America as having consequences to the detriment of Washington and wrote, in the long run, this approach will lead Latin American countries to distance themselves from Washington and cooperate with powers like China. Â
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, this American media wrote: Trump celebrated a clear victory on Sunday when he forced the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, to allow the resumption of flights of deported immigrants from the United States.
Petro had previously announced on the X Messenger that he refused to accept two American military planes that were carrying deported Colombians. He wrote in this message: Before accepting immigrants, America should create a protocol for treating them with dignity.
Crude oil is Colombia’s largest export to the United States, and the South American country is the second largest supplier of American coffee and flowers. The trade war will have a very decisive role in the Colombian economy.
Foreign Policy added: Only a week after Trump’s second administration took office, the treatment of immigrants deported from the United States has angered Latin American countries. Many of these people have not yet been convicted of a crime and are only accused of entering the United States illegally.
Apart from Colombia, the Brazilian government also condemned the “degrading treatment” of migrants on Sunday, calling it a violation of diplomatic agreements on the treatment of deported migrants.
Foreign Policy added: The flight of deported immigrants from the United States is not a new issue, and the Trump administration is transporting some of them using military aircraft instead of using commercial planes or leased by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. These new developments are the result of Trump’s recent executive orders and are a sign of his strict treatment of immigration to prevent future immigration to the United States.
Migrant deportations are likely to be a point of contention between the Trump administration and regional governments in Latin America and the military flights are one of the clearest symbols of a dramatic shift in US foreign policy toward Latin America under the new Trump administration.
US Secretary of State Marco Rabio is scheduled to visit Panama and several other Central American countries. This trip will show better solutions on how to resolve the tension between US and Panama.
Mexico is much larger than Panama, but its economic dependence on the United States leaves the country with fewer options in the face of Trump’s demands not only for deporting immigrants, but also for trade or banning regulations on Chinese companies.
But in the medium or long term, Trump’s iron fist approach against the countries of the region will probably reduce the country’s influence in Latin America.
Finally, every leader in the region, even those who normally support America, will be watching Trump’s strategy toward Panama, Colombia, and Mexico and understand the dangers of total dependence on Washington.