By: Omar Silva

Editor/Publisher: National Perspective Bz,  Digital -2005

www.nationalperspectivebz.com

Belize City: Saturday, 1st February 2025

In an audacious display of imperial overreach, newly inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump has declared his intention to invade Panama and an island off Greenland, citing dubious claims of national security. Simultaneously, the U.S. has substantially ramped up its deportation of foreign migrants while tightening its grip on the outdated Monroe Doctrine, reinforcing its unilateral control over the hemisphere. In response, nations affected by this blatant aggression are considering and must take decisive steps to counteract U.S. arrogance and safeguard their sovereignty.

Honduran President Xiomara Castro’s condemnation of these actions underscores a growing sentiment in Latin America: the region is not Washington’s backyard. The long-standing narrative of U.S. dominance in Latin America must be dismantled through concrete action, rather than mere rhetoric. The time has come for Latin American nations to unite and demand the removal of all U.S. military bases from their territories. These installations, which serve as strategic outposts for U.S. interventionist policies, undermine national sovereignty and perpetuate foreign control over domestic affairs. Their continued presence is an affront to the independence of these nations and a direct threat to regional stability.

Furthermore, in response to the forced deportation of migrants by the U.S., Latin American nations should reciprocate by identifying and expelling U.S. nationals who are residing illegally within their borders. It is only fair that the same strict immigration policies imposed on Latin Americans be applied to U.S. citizens who exploit economic and social opportunities in these nations without proper authorization.

Additionally, Latin American countries must establish equitable visa policies to level the playing field. If Latin Americans are required to pay exorbitant fees for U.S. visas, the same should be demanded of U.S. citizens seeking entry into Latin American nations. Reciprocity in visa policies would send a clear message that these nations will no longer tolerate one-sided diplomatic and economic relations. The days of U.S. privilege and entitlement in the region must come to an end.

The presence of foreign nationals exploiting local economies without contributing meaningfully to society must also be addressed. While Latin Americans face stringent immigration barriers and scrutiny in the U.S., many Americans residing in Latin America do so with minimal legal oversight, often benefiting from privileges denied to the local populace. The selective enforcement of immigration laws must end, and Americans residing in these nations without legal status should face deportation in the same manner that Latin Americans experience in the U.S.

Latin America must no longer be content with diplomatic appeasement in the face of U.S. coercion. The time has come for a new era of regional solidarity and collective defense. Economic and political integration within Latin America, along with strengthened alliances with emerging global powers, will be the cornerstone of true independence from U.S. hegemony. The establishment of self-sufficient economies and strategic trade partnerships beyond U.S. influence will ensure that Latin American nations no longer have to depend on Washington’s ever-shifting policies and exploitative agreements.

It is imperative that Latin America stands firm in declaring that it is not a submissive extension of U.S. foreign policy ambitions. The region must unite to resist neocolonial interventions and reaffirm its right to self-determination. History has shown that when Latin America speaks with a unified voice, it is a formidable force against imperial aggression. The world is shifting towards a multipolar order, and Latin America must seize this moment to redefine its place on the global stage.

This is not merely a call for resistance—it is a demand for dignity, equality, and respect. If the U.S. insists on treating Latin America as a disposable chess piece in its global game of dominance, then Latin American nations must respond with a resolute and coordinated effort to reject its exploitative policies and reinforce their sovereignty. The era of subservience is over; the time for true independence has arrived.