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COL | Feb 4, 2025

Makhulu | Trump breaks Latin America’s macho spirit 

/ Our Today

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A detained migrant waits to board a U.S. Air Force aircraft for a removal flight at Fort Bliss, Texas, U.S. January 23, 2025. (Photo: Dept. of Defense/U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas J. De La Pena/Handout via REUTERS)

President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will be the undisputed top dog in this hemisphere and that its interests will come first.

He expects countries in the region to yield to his will and if they fail to do so, he will unleash his wrath.

The American has warned the region not to put him to the test.

President Trump has already imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Mexican and Canadian goods adding that the US hasn’t any need for Canadian-made cars, energy, lumber and milk.

In less than two weeks in office, he has signed many executive orders in an effort to carry out his promises.

Latin America is known for its machismo. It is said that its people have a fighting spirit and show ferocity in confrontation. That doesn’t perturb Trump.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he tours areas devastated by Hurricane Helene to assess recovery efforts in Swannanoa, North Carolina, U.S., January 24, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Leah Millis)

The president claims that countries must immediately stop their illegal migrants coming over the border. He also says the United States will not be a dumping ground for fentanyl which is the leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 18 to 34.

He is determined to curtail illegal drugs destroying the fabric of American life. 

President Trump says his number one priority is protecting American lives. Manifest Destiny says it is the United States’ right to lead and dominate the region with other countries showing fealty to it.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is presently in Latin America getting that message across.

Latin American countries are hearing it loud and clear and for the most part are compliant. They have no stomach to take on Trump, keeping their machismo in check.

First Colombia initially resisted Trump sending planes there with illegal migrants from that country. On news that Colombia would not allow the planes to land, President Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Colombian goods and threatened to increase that number if Colombia continued to resist.

It backed down the very next day when Colombia’s President Gustavo Pedro sent his plane to the US to pick up his people. Now, he is urging undocumented Colombians in the US to return home.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro attends a meeting to review cooperation on security, trade and climate change issues, at the headquarters of the Colombian Presidency, in Bogota, Colombia October 3, 2022. (Photo: REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/Pool/File)

President Trump has repeatedly said that China is controlling both ends of the Panama Canal and that poses a threat to American national interests. He went on to add that the US built the canal at great expense even losing 38,000 of its citizens in the process. He wants the US to take it back and control it.

But what about Panama? Isn’t the canal controlled by the country in which it resides?

What about Panama?

The way President Trump sees it, the Panamanian Government must stop cosying up to China and its influence in the country must be squashed.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio gestures after being welcomed by Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha upon his arrival at the presidential palace in Panama City, Panama February 2, 2025. (Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via REUTERS)

Panama has now decided not to renew its Belt and Roads Initiative with China in an effort to appease the United States. It knows where its bread is buttered and does not want to upset its powerful neighbour to the north. 

President Trump has said that too many illegal migrants from Mexico are pouring through the border and that the Mexican Government just laughs in America’s face. The president has began rounding up illegal Mexicans in the country and repatriating them en masse.

President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum has now conceded, placing 10,000 permanent troops on the US-Mexican border to deter illegal migration.

Many illegal Mexicans residing in the US are now worried about ICE knocking on their door to carry them to planes bound for their homeland. 

President Trump is serious and is cleaning house.

Of President Trump’s stance on Mexico, his counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum said: “We will always maintain dialogue. It is fundamental in the relationship between Mexico and the Government of the United States. There is a dialogue table and we have plan A, plan B and plan C for whatever the Government of the United States decides.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum gestures as she speaks about U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies during a press conference at the National Palace, in Mexico City, Mexico, January 21, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Henry Romero)

“Now it is very important for the people of Mexico to know that we will always defend the dignity of our people, that we will always defend respect for our sovereignty and a dialogue as equals.

“As we have always mentioned, without subordination. We are going to wait, as I have always said with a cool head.”

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said, “ Those countries must comply with what the United States is asking for which are very simple measures- to work with us when it comes to border security, to cooperate when it comes to the repatriation of their nations’ citizens. You saw Colombia concede and agree to the deportation flights.”

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