After Venezuela, Donald Trump signals a widening arc of confrontation, naming Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba as potential targets and igniting fears of a new era of unilateral military action in Latin America.
In the aftermath of the dramatic US military operation in Venezuela that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning that the crisis may not stop there. Speaking to the media following the operation, Trump said the United States is prepared to deploy troops against other countries in the region, specifically naming Mexico, Cuba, and Colombia, citing narco-terrorism and drug trafficking as justification.
According to Trump, the security situation in Mexico has spiraled beyond the control of its elected leadership. He accused Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum of being powerless against drug cartels, claiming they effectively run the country. “She’s very afraid of the cartels. They control Mexico,” Trump said, adding that Sheinbaum had repeatedly rejected his offers of US assistance to combat organized crime. “Something has to be done,” he warned, signaling impatience with diplomatic restraint.
Turning to Colombia, Trump accused President Gustavo Petro of failing to address large-scale cocaine production. He claimed there were at least three major cocaine factories operating in Colombia and sending drugs into the United States. In a statement widely seen as a direct threat, Trump said Petro would “have to take care of his own safety,” intensifying concerns about US intervention in the country.
Cuba was also singled out, with Trump branding the island a “failing nation.” While he said he hoped to help the Cuban people and exiles, his remarks were interpreted by analysts as laying the groundwork for possible future action against Havana.
Regional reaction was swift and sharply critical. Mexico condemned the US posture as a serious threat to regional stability and reiterated that Latin America should remain a zone of peace. Colombia’s president described the actions as a clear violation of international law, while Cuba denounced the operation as “cowardly, criminal and treacherous.”
Images and videos showing Maduro blindfolded aboard a US warship have further inflamed tensions. Inside the United States, Trump is also facing mounting criticism for launching the Venezuela operation without congressional approval, raising constitutional and legal questions.
As rhetoric hardens and alliances strain, Latin America and the wider international community are bracing for what could become a volatile new chapter in regional geopolitics.
