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Bulletins and News Discussion from January 27th to February 2nd, 2025 - Tariffs in Trump's Imperium - COTW: Colombia

Image is of Colombian President Gustavo Petro giving a speech at the UN in 2022.

Trump has arrived in office with the force of an avalanche; ending slowing a genocide on the one hand, while simultaneously promising a total nightmare for minorities and the poor throughout and outside the United States on the other hand. [edited for clarity; I do not actually think Trump has ended the Palestinian genocide obviously, I was making a joke - but the ceasefire is a genuine improvement in conditions for millions of people right now who are on the edge of death, so it cannot be dismissed]

It's still far too early to truly compare and contrast his imperial strategy with Biden's, but initial signs show that there does appear to be somewhat of a reorientation. Biden was famous for being two-faced; ostensibly offering aid and stability, while also blowing up your pipeline to ensure you did not actually have an alternative to his idea. Trump, meanwhile, seems only really capable of aggression, threatening several "allied" nations with what may as well be sanctions because of the economic harm they'd do. I suspect we'll be debating for a long time how much of this can be attributed to the specific characteristics of Trump, or whether he merely embodies the zeitgeist of imperial decline - a wounded empire lashing out with extreme violence to try and convince everybody, including themselves, that they can still be the world imperialist hegemon.

I'll admit it: I did not believe that Trump would actually try and go ahead with putting tariffs on basically anybody who annoys him. And while the threat could still be empty in regards to countries like China and Canada, Colombia is the first indication of the potential of his strategy. Despite some fiery words from President Petro, after Trump's administration revealed the punishment if Colombia did not agree, it appears that Colombia will in fact be accepting deported migrants after all. It's funny how that works.

Last week's thread is here. The Imperialism Reading Group is here.

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619 comments

  • The CELAC extraordinary meeting of Heads of State and Government called for Thursday has been cancelled. The Pro Tempore Presidency says Honduras has received systematic opposition from Member Countries on the issue of Haiti and concerning the issue of migrants.

    The statement by the Pro Tempore Presidency (Honduras), says that certain Member Countries have privileged other principles and interests different from those of the unity of the Latin American and Caribbean region as a Community.

    Some progressive governments are evidently on a short leash and simply not prepared to take the plunge and oppose the empire Moments ago, President Xiomara Castro announced the enactment of the national emergency strategy for the protection of Honduran migrants. It includes an action program for Hondurans in an irregular migratory situation in the US, as well as those in transit & returned to Honduras.

    President Xiomara says she'll instruct institutions of the newly created Migration Governance Council to immediately carry out in the next 72 hours, a technical mission of verification and support to migrants on the southern border of the US and the northern border of Mexico.

    President @XiomaraCastroZ: "The displacement of people either within or outside [Honduras] has worsened with the implementation of a neoliberal economic model that deepened dependence, inequality, environmental degradation and violence." Deportations of Hondurans from the United States have decreased by at least 50% between 2000 and 2024.

    • 2022: 88,000
    • 2023: 58,000
    • 2024: 44,000

    There are an estimated 1.8 million Hondurans currently in the United States, of which Honduras has been informed that 261,651 have deportation orders and are not in the custody of the U.S. Immigration Service. 1,349 have deportation orders and are in custody. XC says the immediate expulsion of migrants from several Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Honduras, "undoubtedly generates a humanitarian and economic crisis in our nation" and reiterates willingness to maintain a close dialogue with the US on the matter.

    The decreed and enacted national emergency strategy for the protection of Honduran migrants includes an action program for: 1. Hondurans in an irregular migratory situation in the United States 2.Honduran migrants in transit 3. Returned Honduran migrants. The strategy includes strengthening of agreements w/governments of transit countries, Guatemala and Mexico, coordinating of voluntary humanitarian return flights for Hondurans in Mexico, new consular offices where Hondurans reside, passport/national ID issuance will be sped up.

    Camila - Kawsachuan News

619 comments