President Donald J. Trump has returned to office with a promise to carry out the largest deportations in U.S. history and to militarize the border. Latin American leaders responded with a mixture of defiance and attempts at diplomacy.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of Mexican immigrants to the U.S. economy and reassured them that Mexico stands with them. Mexico’s foreign minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, stated that Mexico would not support the reinstatement of the “Remain in Mexico” policy that forced asylum seekers to wait in Mexico.
Honduras indicated that it would not accept mass deportations without negotiation with the U.S. government. In Panama, President José Raúl Mulino rejected Trump’s claims about the Panama Canal and emphasized Panamanian control over it.
Despite concerns over Trump’s policies, El Salvador did not mention plans to push back against deportations, instead highlighting close ties to the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Cuba denounced U.S. sanctions and economic isolation.
The response from other Latin American countries varied, with some expressing readiness to respond to potential threats to their economies. By the end of the day, Canada’s finance minister had spoken out against Trump’s tariffs threat.
Overall, Latin American leaders are navigating a delicate balance between asserting their sovereignty and maintaining diplomatic ties with the U.S. amid President Trump’s return to power.
Source
Photo credit www.nytimes.com