This article examines the motivations behind President Trump’s tariffs on Mexico and military buildup at the southern border, suggesting they serve as distractions from domestic economic troubles and aims to reassert US dominance in a manner reminiscent of the Monroe Doctrine. It highlights the historical context of US-Mexico relations and the strategic importance of Mexico in international trade.
Recently, the Trump administration announced the imposition of a 25-percent tariff on imports from Mexico, although this was later modified to exempt products covered under the US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). Simultaneously, the Department of Defense continues its military buildup at the southern border, deploying an additional 3,000 troops as part of these measures.
President Trump attributes these actions to the need to control the flow of fentanyl and undocumented migrants crossing from Mexico. However, recent data reveals a significant decline in both fentanyl-related deaths and border crossings, prompting questions regarding the genuine motivations behind his policies.
Firstly, it appears that Trump is attempting to distract the public from the turmoil regarding his internal economic policies. Inflation currently sits at 3 percent, consumer confidence remains unstable, petrol prices are on the rise, and a considerable number of federal employees have experienced layoffs.
More significantly, Trump seems to be revisiting a Monroe Doctrine approach, seeking to assert American dominance over Mexico and Latin America through intimidation tactics. This strategy aligns with a historical context of US military and imperial interventions, starting from the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 which aimed to fortify US influence over the Western Hemisphere.
The current military buildup includes a renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to “the Gulf of America,” identifying Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, and strengthening CIA operations within Mexican territory. Such actions could potentially lead to military incursions, reflecting a history of US aggression in the region that dates back over two centuries.
Mexico’s strategic location and significant economy render it particularly vulnerable to such tactics. It shares a 3,000 km border with the US and has a GDP of $1.79 trillion, making it the second-largest economy in Latin America. As Mexico diversifies its trade partnerships, particularly with China, it poses a challenge to US supremacy in the region.
Despite these geopolitical tensions, Mexico’s current president, Claudia Sheinbaum Prado, emerges as a strong yet cooperative leader, actively enhancing anti-drug operations and maintaining high approval ratings. Her government has made efforts to mitigate tariffs by apprehending high-level drug cartel leaders and increasing narcotic seizures.
Nevertheless, Trump’s focus appears to be less about addressing the underlying issues of drug trafficking and migration, and more about leveraging military presence to intimidate Mexico politically and limit its engagement with China. With an ambitious agenda, Trump may threaten to regress relations in the Western Hemisphere to a period reflective of two centuries prior.
In summary, Trump’s tariffs and military buildup on the southern border appear motivated by a desire to redirect attention from domestic economic issues and reassert US dominance in the region under a revived Monroe Doctrine. As Mexico navigates this challenging landscape with a steadfast leadership, the ramifications of Trump’s policies on sovereignty and international relations remain to be fully realized.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
