In the picture
Panamanians celebrate Canal expansion in 2016, inaugurated with transit of Chinese ship [ACP].
PRESENTATION
The debut of Donald Trump's second presidency is proving to be particularly convulsive for U.S. relations with the countries of its continental environment. The victory of the New York magnate in the 2024 presidential election has stressed the hemispheric relationship. The Panama Canal constitutes the touchstone of the link between the great North American country and the community of nations to the South: built by the long breath of US imperialism, its submission the small Central American country meant a sort of historical reconciliation of Washington with its 'backyard' neighbors and with the rest of Latin America.
That is why Trump's attack on Panamanian sovereignty over the Canal completely upsets the inter-American order. Panama has acted swiftly to keep China away from the banks of that inter-oceanic waterway and is considering ways of a favored attention to the US in the transit through the Canal that does not damage its commitment to neutrality before the international community. President Mulino's government has also lent its support to the Trump Administration in alleviating migratory pressure, attempting to 'close' the Darien valve: the passage in the isthmus that allowed emigration on foot to the United States from South America.
Still, Trump's pressure continues, so it is unclear whether his final purpose is to actually take over the Canal, which would not happen peacefully. But the re-elected president is acting against laws and judges, as in his fight against the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua and the deportation of its alleged members. These issues bring to the forefront American regional security, which in the last year has also been affected by issues such as the consolidation of Chinese espionage facilities in Cuba, the penetration of drug trafficking in the avocado business, the violence in the Colombian region of Catatumbo that buries Petro's Total Peace and the slight drop in femicides in the first months of the first woman president of Mexico.
CONTENTS
summary EXECUTIVE / Trump's Return Stresses Hemispheric Relations: From the Panama Canal to the Aragua Train
GEOPOLITICS / Panama moves China away from the isthmus under U.S. pressure-GabrielaRodríguez
GEOPOLITICS / Trump demands a rereading of the 'neutrality' of the Panama Canal-LaisSuassuna
MIGRATION/ 'Reverse' migration: Darien begins to see migrants returning south-VirginiaGomez
ESPIONAGE / China consolidates facilities in Cuba to spy on its great rival from its 'backyard'-Gabriela Rodríguez
ORGANIZED CRIME / The Aragua Train establishes itself as a transnational group , from Chile to Canada-EmiliJ. Blasco
ORGANIZED CRIME / Mexican cartels profit from avocado boom, star fruit in the U.S.-Talalal Naimi
ARMED CONFLICT / No 'Total Peace': Renewed Violence in Colombia during the Petro-SamnuelTorres Administration
CITIZEN SECURITY / Femicides drop slightly in Mexico after reaching 1,000 per year during AMLO's term in office-MaríaLuisa Pardo