Venezuela was not the end; it was rather the beginning. The beginning of a new, uncontrolled foreign policy based on what the Trump administration has clearly described in the new National Security Strategy: that the Western Hemisphere belongs to the USA. After the military operation in Venezuela and the "seizing" of President Maduro on charges that are rather laughable, Trump sent a message in every direction: we are ready to repeat this action from Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba to Iran and Greenland, which belongs to NATO ally Denmark. Washington is now openly adopting the logic of force and military power. This logic, however, opens dangerous paths for other global powers such as China and Russia. Now, the question is not whether new corresponding military operations will occur, but where, when, and with what consequences.
Threats
Already, President Trump has threatened the governments of Colombia, Mexico, and Cuba, pointing out that in the struggle against the adversaries of the United States, he will not be limited by "geography." This is why he has further targeted Iran and Greenland. However, experts argue that operations similar to the one in Venezuela could prove to be a much more complex undertaking and lead to an extensive crisis. Already, in the press conference following the operation in Venezuela, US President Donald Trump hinted that the United States could act in a similar manner toward other Latin American countries.
It can happen to any leader
Trump argued that "everyone must understand" that what happened to President Nicolás Maduro can happen to any leader. Specifically, Donald Trump warned Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who criticized the US operation. As the American president stated, cocaine is produced in Colombia and then channeled into the United States. "Gustavo Petro really should be more careful," Trump noted, without specifying exactly what he meant. Trump issued similar warnings to another country in the region—Mexico. In his view, the state is not controlled by President Claudia Sheinbaum, but by drug cartels, which pose a threat to the USA. "Claudia Sheinbaum is a good woman, but she does not govern the country. Mexico is actually ruled by the cartels. So we will have to do something about them," Trump characteristically stated.
Operation Cuba
Within the Trump administration, talk has also begun regarding a possible operation in Cuba. "We want to help the people living in Cuba," the American president emphasized. He later added that Cuba "is ready to fall." Secretary of State Marco Rubio, born to a family of Cuban immigrants, described the island nation as a "big problem." Finally, according to Trump, the US Armed Forces are ready to launch a repeated and much more extensive strike against Venezuela, although "probably this is no longer necessary." The American leader stated that he is taking control of the country, without clarifying exactly how this control will be exercised. "We will run the country until we can ensure a safe and rational transition of power. We don't want someone else to come to power and have the same situation form as in recent years," Trump pointed out.
The Western Hemisphere belongs to us
In the new US National Security Strategy published in December 2025, Latin America constitutes a separate chapter. Reference is made to the Monroe Doctrine—a declaration of principles of American foreign policy formulated by President James Monroe in 1823, according to which Washington will not allow the intervention of other great powers in the Western Hemisphere. "After many years of neglect, the USA will reaffirm and implement the Monroe Doctrine to restore American supremacy in the Western Hemisphere and protect our homeland and our access to key geographical areas throughout the region," the new US security strategy states.
The Trump corollary
Interestingly, within the framework of the Monroe Doctrine, the authors of the strategy directly use the term "Trump corollary." This is a direct reference to the "Roosevelt Corollary"—the doctrine of the 26th US President Theodore Roosevelt, who proclaimed the right of intervention in Latin American countries. The Strategy also notes that the USA will resist the penetration of other powers into the Western Hemisphere and will attract "reliable friends" to control migration, stop drug trafficking, and strengthen stability in the region.
The logic of the gendarme
"The actions against the Maduro regime have confirmed in practice the predictions of the new strategy," argues Russian political scientist Ksenia Konovalova-Alkhimenkova, a senior lecturer in the Department of World Politics at St. Petersburg University. According to her, the Trump administration is indeed assuming the role of the "gendarme of the hemisphere." "The Western Hemisphere is treated by the USA as its exclusive zone of influence, where there should be no internal or external competitors. And the USA will not hesitate to eliminate those who disagree," Konovalova-Alkhimenkova emphasizes, stating that US relations with Latin American countries can now be described in the context of "control and pressure." "Now it becomes clear that there are no rules—international law will not stop the USA," observed Konovalova-Alkhimenkova.
The next targets
Following the operation in Venezuela, countries outside of Latin America began to be mentioned as possible targets of an American attack. Primarily, Donald Trump continued to speak of the need to control Greenland, which belongs to Denmark, a NATO ally of the United States. "We really need Greenland, absolutely. Greenland is surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships. We need it for defense reasons," Trump argued.
Warning from Denmark
In statements, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen argued that if the USA attacks a fellow NATO ally, it would mean the end of both the military alliance and post-WWII security. "If the United States decides to militarily attack another NATO country, then everything will stop—that includes NATO and, consequently, security after the Second World War," the Danish prime minister pointed out.
Greenland painted in the colors of the American flag
In this context, the wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Katie Miller, published a map of Greenland painted in the colors of the American flag, accompanying it with the brief caption: "Soon." According to Politico, the United States of America may establish control over Greenland as early as the next few months. As the report states, such an event could happen ahead of the US midterm elections in November, as well as on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of United States independence on July 4. As experts and officials interviewed by Politico point out, the risk is characterized as "real and serious." Washington's methods will likely differ from the Venezuela scenario: instead of a military operation, political influence may be used, specifically efforts to buy off local politicians. The seizure of Greenland could cause a serious rift between NATO and EU allies, even greater than that caused by the issue of support for Ukraine. As experts emphasize, Denmark is unlikely to receive the same support that Kyiv has received.
Target: Iran
On the other hand, analysts point out that the next US target could again be Iran, where protests are currently continuing. Shortly before the operation against Nicolás Maduro, Trump had openly declared his support for the Iranian protesters. "If Iran begins shooting and brutally suppressing peaceful protesters, which is common there, the USA will help them. We are fully prepared to act," Trump stated.
Not limited to the Monroe Doctrine
According to Boris Mezhuyev, associate professor at the Faculty of Philosophy of M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University and senior researcher at the Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Trump's actions are unlikely to be limited to the Monroe Doctrine. "Any state that opposes the USA can become a target, provided it does not possess nuclear weapons," says Mezhuyev. Later, Trump himself emphasized that the operation against Venezuela was not organized because of "geography." "It's not about the hemisphere. It's about the country. About specific countries," Trump said speaking to reporters from The Atlantic, calling his approach the "Donroe doctrine." "The Monroe Doctrine is, of course, important, but we have outgrown it, we have outgrown it by far. Now they call it the Donroe doctrine," Trump said.
How likely are new operations?
The possibility of conducting new operations in Latin America indeed exists, but it depends on many factors, pointed out Ksenia Konovalova-Alkhimenkova. According to her, sufficient internal political consensus within the USA is primarily required, something that is not currently observed. The main inspirer of the operation against Nicolás Maduro is considered to be Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom The Washington Post has already called the "viceroy of Venezuela." However, even among Trump's supporters, there are critics of new interventions. "The case of Venezuela showed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is 'at the top,' influences Donald Trump, and that his interventionist line prevailed. But the extent to which this result will be maintained remains unclear," the Russian political scientist pointed out.
The cases of Nicaragua and Mexico
On the other hand, regimes in other Latin American countries, unlike Venezuela, are more stable, while the loyalty of their elites, military, and security services may be much higher. Among Trump's potential targets, the expert mentioned the leftist government of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, which the US considered a security threat and placed on the same level as Venezuela and Cuba. "However, Nicaragua—and much more so Cuba—may prove to be much more difficult targets, considering that, for example, the USA never managed to eliminate Fidel Castro, despite the large number of such plans," the Russian political scientist underlined, stating that the USA seriously calculates the cost of such operations. In the case of Mexico, for example, the cost would be extremely high and would lead to an extensive migration crisis. "An invasion of Mexico, where cartels indeed control entire parts of the state and are heavily armed, would lead to great losses for the Americans and cause a massive humanitarian crisis at the border," emphasized Ksenia Konovalova-Alkhimenkova.
What does Trump's strategy in Latin America mean for Russia and China?
China and Russia were considered key allies of the Maduro regime and condemned the US actions. As Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated, "no country should be allowed to claim the role of international judge." A similar statement was issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasizing that the people of Venezuela must determine their own future and that military intervention in the internal affairs of the countries in the region is unacceptable. "Latin America must remain a zone of peace, as it self-declared in 2014. Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own fate, without any destructive, let alone military, external interference," the Russian Foreign Ministry underlines.
No forceful reaction
At the same time, neither country intends to react forcefully to the American operation against Venezuela. Furthermore, the remaining in power of representatives of the previous regime suggests that certain Russian-Venezuelan ties may be maintained. This was confirmed by the telephone conversation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, whom the USA recognized as the legitimate head of state. "However, Trump's new strategy in Latin America is clearly directed against the presence of China and Russia in the region," considers Konovalova-Alkhimenkova. In her view, the United States will try to displace Russian and Chinese investors. "First of all, various politically sensitive projects will be hit—nuclear energy, strategic logistics—as well as anything related to the military-industrial complex. But I do not believe they will manage to achieve full dominance and control," estimates Konovalova-Alkhimenkova.
www.bankingnews.gr
Σχόλια αναγνωστών