Trump vs. Latin America: How U.S. Pressure Is Pushing the Region Together

Bolívar warned in 1829 that "the United States appears destined by Providence to plague America with misery in the name of liberty." Nearly 200 years later, U.S. policy under Trump is proving him prophetic—and making his case for regional unity.

The Deportation Machine

The Trump administration has targeted 1 million deportations, with Latin Americans bearing the brunt. Border apprehensions have dropped 87% as deterrence policies take hold. Over 530,000 humanitarian paroles—temporary protections for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela—have been terminated.

For Latin American governments, this creates a crisis: how to absorb returnees, how to respond to citizens mistreated abroad, how to maintain dignity in the face of contempt.

Panama Canal Threats

Trump's inaugural address threat to "take back" the Panama Canal shocked the hemisphere. CELAC unanimously condemned the rhetoric—with only Argentina's Milei abstaining. The threat reminded Latin Americans that their sovereignty remains contingent on U.S. forbearance.

Venezuela Intervention

The January 3, 2026 capture of Maduro—however unpopular he was—established a precedent: the United States will use military force against Latin American governments it dislikes. Every government in the region, regardless of ideology, must now factor in the possibility of American intervention.

The Unity Response

U.S. pressure is doing what Latin American leaders couldn't: building regional solidarity. CELAC has emerged as a vehicle for collective response. Even ideologically opposed governments—leftists and conservatives alike—have united in condemning American overreach.

This is the context for Petro's confederation proposal. When the alternative is individual vulnerability to U.S. pressure, collective defense becomes attractive. Gran Colombia isn't just nostalgia—it's survival strategy.

The Bolivarian Vindication

"The United States appears destined by Providence to plague America with misery in the name of liberty."

Bolívar couldn't have known about Trump, about deportation flights, about Operation Absolute Resolve. But he understood the fundamental dynamic: a powerful northern neighbor would dominate a fragmented Latin America. Only unity could provide resistance.

Two centuries later, his analysis remains accurate. And his solution—regional integration—remains the most viable response.