Opinion: How Mexico can strike back if Trump follows through on his threats

Los Angeles Times ^ | Dec. 31, 2024 3 AM PT | Scott Morgenstern

[E. Pluribus Unum]

President-elect Donald Trump has made clear his intent to supercharge his “America First” approach to foreign policy in his second term — and Mexico looks set to be at the tip of the spear.

While many of Trump’s predecessors have also followed a “realist” strategy — that is, one in which relative power is at the forefront of international relations and diplomatic success is viewed through how it benefits one’s own nation — the incoming president has displayed an apparent unwillingness to consider the pain that his plans would inflict on targeted countries or the responses this will engender.

Trump’s proposed policies threaten Mexico in three key ways: First, his goal of deporting millions of migrants would put tremendous pressure on Mexico’s economy and society as the country tried to absorb the influx. This would be exacerbated by his second threat, a sharp increase in tariffs, which could devastate the critical export sector of Mexico’s economy. And third, Trump has floated the idea of using U.S. military power to confront narcotraffickers within Mexico — which would directly impinge on Mexico’s sovereignty and could generate more violence on both sides of the border.

But Mexico has several options to push back on Trump by imposing high costs on U.S. interests.

Indeed, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has already signaled how she may counter Trump’s policies. The most obvious tools are ending cooperation on drugs and immigration and imposing tariffs of her own. She could also revoke some of the decades-old tax and labor privileges that have benefited U.S. businesses operating within Mexico. And finally, she could play the “China card” — that is, in the face of worsening U.S.-Mexico ties, Mexico could turn to Washington’s biggest economic...

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Trump’s proposed policies threaten Mexico in three key ways: First, his goal of deporting millions of migrants would put tremendous pressure on Mexico’s economy and society as the country tried to absorb the influx.

Did it "put tremendous pressure on Mexico’s economy and society" when they shuttled them to the border?

[No name given]

I doubt it. Hypocrisy at its finest.

[TTFlyer]

How about the United States Marine Corps do another “Halls of Montezuma” on these jackasses.

[doorgunner69]

LA Slimes recommending foreign action against the US, is that not treason?

[metmom]

The most obvious tools are ending cooperation on drugs and immigration .....

That's a threat?

[thescourged1]

Play the China card?

Mine Mexico's harbors. Haiphong-style.

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

Drug cartels are the 5th largest employer in Mexico.

https://archive.is/FS0Bo

Mexico appears to be a Narco State. The US military should be used to destroy the entire Mexican government. The US should do to Mexico what Israel is doing to Syria, but we should be more thorough.

Let the new government in the new government buildings in their new capital fight back any way they like.

[faucetman]

Bullshirt! Mexico and all other countries need US more than we need them.

We can be energy independent again. We can make other countries grovel at our feet for energy.

We are self sufficient for everything if we have to be. We have the raw materials/natural resources, we have the labor force, we have the land, we have a varied climate, we have the “will” if/when we need it to accomplish anything. We are the U S of A.

We don’t NEED other countries, they NEED US!

As Elon Musk would say “Go F yourselves” (except he would actually say it.)

[LuxAerterna]

This guy is simply BEGGING Mexico to harm the USA. In his sick mind, it’s well deserved.

[V_TWIN]

Kinda what I was thinking.....there was a time in this country this kinda thing would warrent a visit from the fbi or even SS.

[odawg]

“The most obvious tools are ending cooperation on drugs and immigration...”

Ending cooperation on immigration when she has been committing acts of war against the United States through illegal immigration?

Whoever wrote this is bat-shit crazy.

[Eddie01]

Go Mexico!

The LA Times = The Mexico Times

[ProtectOurFreedom]

"[Trump] has displayed an apparent unwillingness to consider the pain that his plans would inflict on targeted countries"

What an idiot author. What about the IMMENSE PAIN that Mexico has ALREADY inflicted on us with the millions of people they sent north illegally. Plus, Mexico allowed people from all over the world to transit Mexico to come to the USA illegally.

We have suffered more than enough pain because of Mexico's intransigence on shipping poorly educated, disease-ridden people, terrorists and narcos to the USA.

[HartleyMBaldwin]

ending cooperation on drugs and immigration

If the border is properly fortified, and by that I mean sealed so that a cucaracha can't cross without permission, Mexico's cooperation or lack thereof is completely irrelevant.

[Ge0ffrey]

Whose side is the LA Times on?

[Mercat]

Millions or billions, I forget which, are sent to Mexico by the illegals.

[PGR88]

Mexico has already signaled that it will withhold processing of non-Mexicans.

Mexico has no problem processing illegals from as far away as Mozambique, China and Uzbekistan who landed in Mexico, as it shuttled all of them towards the US border.

The Mexican government was nothing less than waging a form of asymmetric warfare on the USA

Recognize that an respond appropriately

[SoConPubbie]

None of this will matter if the Trumpster has to follow through on his threats of tariffs.

It will thoroughly crush Mexico's economy and bring them to their knees.

[A strike]

la Times advocating for Mexico ..

[bigbob]

Mexico can do whatever it wants, and it can also “find out”.