What Does the Use of Tariffs in Diplomacy Mean for Trump's Foreign Policy Strategy?

Preisdent Trump & Gustavo Petro (Miami Herald)

Amidst a mass deportation scheme, President Trump has had disputes with Colombian President Gustavo Petro. On Sunday, January 25th, 2025, President Petro stopped the arrival of two United States military aircraft carrying illegal Colombian immigrants from landing in Colombia. The Colombian President did not like the fact that the returning immigrants were handcuffed and treated like “criminals.” In response to Colombia’s disobedience, President Trump stated that he would impose a 25% tariff (which would increase to 50% after a week) on all Colombian imports into the United States and revoke the visas of Colombian government officials if they did not comply. In response, the Colombian president threatened retaliatory tariffs on the United States. However, within hours, The Colombian President bent the knee and gave in to President Trump’s demands. President Petro also went as far as offering up his personal aircraft for the deportation of the Colombian immigrants on US military aircraft who were refused reentry.  

This diplomatic interaction with Colombia may foreshadow into the future on how Donald Trump will conduct foreign policy. Using the threat of tariffs to bring Colombia to the fold stands for more than one may think. Although threatening tariffs to enforce deportation genuinely worked, Trump’s true intentions were to send a message to the rest of the world. Trump intends to show the world that America will get its way. Trump has been on record stating that he may use economic power to pursue the acquisition of Greenland. With Trump’s demonstrated willingness to use the threat of tariffs as a form of coercion in international relations, Trump may threaten the use of tariffs on the Danish government for Greenland, or even the Panamanian government for the Panama Canal.  

Trump must tread carefully when threatening tariffs in international relations. Colombia, the first North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) global partner in Latin America has had positive relations with the United States for some time now. Threatening friendly countries with hard power is a risky diplomatic move, especially in a region where China is making significant geopolitical gains over the United States. This strategy (which so far has been effective) will affect America’s soft power on the global stage. With President Trump’s extreme polarization, this upcoming year will be remarkably quintessential for American foreign policy.