Trump was doused with a bucket of cold water! Just as the U.S. intended to expand its influence in Latin America, Colombia announced a major piece of news! On May 6th, Colombian President Petro stated that he would sign an intention letter for the "Belt and Road" initiative with China. Moreover, Petro has repeatedly mentioned that Colombia needs to redirect its trade towards China. Although the U.S. is Colombia's largest trading partner, recently the import volume from China has exceeded that from the U.S.
Obviously, after Trump took office, the U.S. was eager to turn the Americas into an "America for Americans". Whether it was Trump's attempt to forcibly reclaim the Panama Canal, his desire to annex Greenland, or his plan to make Canada the 51st state of the U.S., the U.S.'s expansionist ambitions in the Americas have been clearly evident. However, as the U.S. increasingly displays its expansionist tendencies, countries like Colombia are now increasingly realizing the importance of strengthening cooperation with China.
In fact, after Trump took office, the relationship between the U.S. and Colombia plummeted to its lowest point. The most symbolic event of this was when the U.S. used military planes to forcibly deport immigrants, which was rejected by Colombia, followed by the U.S. retaliating with tariffs against Colombia. In Colombia's view, the U.S. is becoming less and less trustworthy. Therefore, upgrading relations with China is a wise choice for Colombia in the face of American bullying. There is no surprise that Colombia's decision will undoubtedly leave a bitter taste in the U.S.'s mouth. But Colombia cannot be blamed for this. For Latin American countries, they clearly need partners, not bullies.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1831429732468873/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's personal views.