Having sensationally decapitated the Venezuelan state in an audacious military strike on 3 January 2026, President Donald Trump has made it clear that his “America First” doctrine is no longer a policy of isolation, but one of assertive hemispheric dominance. The capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores—now awaiting trial in New York on narco-terrorism charges—marks the most significant US military intervention in Latin America this century. Yet, as the smoke clears over Caracas, the international community is left to contemplate a chilling reality: for this administration, Venezuela was merely the opening act.
The ideological foundation for this new era is the “Trump Corollary” to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine. Unveiled late in 2025, this policy asserts that the United States reserves the right to intervene militarily to expel foreign influence, dismantle drug cartels, and secure vital resources across the Americas. Trump’s fascination with territorial acquisition, once dismissed as mere hyperbole, has taken on a lethal seriousness. From his repeated public interest in annexing Greenland for its rare earth minerals to his stated desire to reclaim American control over the Panama Canal, the president is effectively attempting to redraw the map of the Western Hemisphere.
Critics have noted that Trump’s language regarding these operations mirrors his previous praise for Vladimir Putin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which he once described as “genius.” By applying similar “peacekeeping” rhetoric to his southern neighbours, Trump has plunged a nation of 28 million people into profound uncertainty. While he boasts of an “operational triumph,” the administrative reality in Venezuela is fraught. His “Plan A”—to govern through Vice President Delcy Rodríguez—collapsed within hours as she denounced the US as an “imperialist occupying power.” Undeterred, Trump remains fixated on Venezuela’s oil infrastructure, promising that American energy giants will “run the country professionally” and harvest its vast reserves.
Hemispheric Ambitions: The Trump Administration’s Target List
| Target Country / Asset | Stated Policy Objective | Justification Provided |
| Venezuela | Direct Governance & Oil Extraction | Elimination of “Narco-Terrorism” |
| Mexico | Counter-Cartel Military Incursion | Claim that “Cartels run the country” |
| Greenland | Territorial Annexation | National Security & Mineral Access |
| Panama Canal | Re-establishment of US Control | Protection of Maritime Trade |
| Cuba | Political “Cleanup” | Removal of Anti-US Regional Influence |
The horizon now looks increasingly bleak for those on the president’s list of “enemies from within” and without. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already suggested that Cuba should be “concerned,” while threats toward Mexico have intensified following the “Absolute Resolve” operation in Caracas. If the Venezuelan intervention is viewed by the White House as a success, it will likely embolden an administration that sees military force as a valid tool for economic negotiation. For now, the world watches as the United States shifts its “War on Terror” into a “War for the Hemisphere,” where sovereignty is secondary to American interest.
Source: The Guardian