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The people who run the largest nations in the Western Hemisphere are insisting on something strangely mundane. They have found it necessary — and popular — to point out that they govern sovereign nations.
That was not previously a detail that required much clarification. Then President Trump arrived. He has made repeated demands of Mexico, Canada, Brazil and other nations, including about whom they can trade with, whom they can investigate and how they secure themselves. He has tried to use tariffs, trade investigations and threats of force to make them obey.
As a result, sovereignty is having a moment.
Pushing back
Trump made his name bossing others around. It was the entire concept of “The Apprentice.” His governing style takes the same shape: He expects deference.
In his second term, he has proved even more willing to push America’s neighbors — and those nations have not taken it well.
Mexico: Trump has flayed its handling of immigration, drugs and trade. President Claudia Sheinbaum has in turn stressed that Mexico is a sovereign nation at least 30 times during her daily news conferences this year. “Mexico is not subordinate to anyone,” she said last month.
Canada: After Trump said his northern neighbor should become the 51st state, Mark Carney won Canada’s election for prime minister in a landslide by promising to defend his nation from Trump’s “threats to our sovereignty.”
