Donald Trump won the November election with overwhelming support from Latino voters, a long-held Democratic constituency that is now trending to the right. After his victory, Trump celebrated his victory at Mar-a-Lago. In this traditional setting, something very untraditional happened. The first head of state Trump engaged with was not a European or Asian leader, but the Argentine president. Javier Millay.
This was not the only surprise. President Trump also nominated Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the son of Hispanic parents, to be the next Secretary of State, a milestone in U.S. history. Latin America is increasingly relevant to the agendas of the world's most powerful countries.
A little bit of Nixon and a lot of Reagan. madman theory and peace through powerPresident Trump is trying to change the US position in the face of China's aggressive commercial expansion in Latin America.
like nixon In the 1970s, Trump believed that the element of surprise created and spread fear, confusion, and most importantly, respect among his rivals. This position does not always follow the rules, but reinvents them. Negotiators like Trump know when to get up from the table and when to come back to the table on their own terms.
Meanwhile, President Trump has not only echoed President Reagan's call to make America great again, but also President Reagan's call for peace through strength, the establishment of military supremacy and power to prevent wars rather than instigate new wars. It is also inspired by the motto of
In Latin America, President Trump will have a second chance to restore democracy in Venezuela. The administration wants to negotiate on immigration and oil to stay in power, but that's wrong. The Trump team has made it clear that only an end to tyranny will reduce immigration and accelerate the revitalization of the oil industry.
Mr. Trump is assertive. He recognized Edmundo González as the legitimate president, avoided bloodshed in Venezuela, and reaffirmed his full support for the freedom fighters in confronting the tyrant in Miraflores. In this new round, Maduro is weak, but Trump is strong.
Sanctions and maximum pressure remain the norm against corrupt authoritarian states in the region. A zero-tolerance policy towards the dictatorships of Cuba and Nicaragua was declared. There are no shady deals in which human lives are negotiated in exchange for sanctions relief.
Next is the Panama Canal. “We're going to buy it, we're going to pay for it, we're going to build it, and we're going to maintain it” was President Reagan's famous phrase and helped propel him to the US presidency. In the end, he respected the Torrijos-Carter agreement, but Trump's provocative strategy on the Panama Canal was similar to that of Trump's provocative strategy to reduce China's influence, seize greater trade opportunities, and strengthen U.S. geopolitical power. The terms could be renegotiated in favor of exploring possibilities.
Although the Chinese regime does not control the canal, an increased presence in the region would not undermine China's interests. The communist superpower and its “private companies” already exist. We must not forget that China has a dangerous grip on Latin America's telecommunications, lithium and copper industries, ports, and other critical infrastructure.
President Trump's key mandate for Mexico, a major trading partner, includes ensuring greater assistance in border security. no more threats Or political favors for the Cuban dictatorship — those days are over.
Mexico cannot become a Trojan horse for China. President Trump has taken a stance that he will not tolerate a large influx of products manufactured in Mexico or some Chinese products. Tariffs and other trade options continue to be considered.
Also, The growing fentanyl industry President Trump has threatened to designate the cartel as a terrorist organization because it is produced in Mexico and lacks cooperation with the DEA. Some believe that perhaps this is just a strategy to get the Mexican government to stop protecting drug traffickers.
The incoming US administration is already changing the course of things in Latin America. It is still too early to tell whether China will reduce its influence in the Western Hemisphere, but at least the Trump administration will not easily expand it.
America is back.
Arturo McFields is an exiled journalist, former OAS ambassador, and former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps. He is a graduate of the National Defense University's Security and Defense Seminar.
