On the 3rd of January, the United States carried out airstrikes across Venezuela, targeting the Capital city of Caracas. Shortly afterwards, U.S forces had been deployed into Venezuela for a short amount of time, capturing the President Nicolas Maduro. Swiftly after the operation, U.S President Donald Trump posted on truth social a picture of Nicolas Maduro on board the U.S.S Iwo Jima, on his way to New York to face trial.
The U.S attorney general Pam Bondi stated Nicolas Maduro would face charges for his involvement of “narco-terrorism”.
This operation was the largest U.S Military action in Latin America since the 1989 Panama Invasion.
However U.S intervention has not stopped short of latin America, on June 22nd last year, the Trump Administration authorised precision strikes on Key Iranian Nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, aiming to disarm Iran of its capability to produce Nuclear Weapons, of which the Trump Administration hailed a “tremendous success”.
However whilst these are all example of the willingness of the Trump Administration to engage in Military conflict with regimes that has always been seen as Hostile nations of the U.S, the Administration has turned its eyes to Countries that no one would have expected.
Donald Trump has reiterated time and time again that he would like to own Greenland and that Military action was always on the table for the Commander in chief.
From these threats, Denmark and various other European leaders including Emmanuel Macron and Kier Starwmer warned Trump against any action against Denmark.3 From these calls from allies, the Trump Administration discussed alternative ways to acquire the arctic territory, that being purchasing the autonomous territory and ruled out using military force.
Even though the U.S has seemingly backed down from using force the Danish have remained alert and have increased its military presence on the arctic island, showcasing how Fragile the NATO alliance currently is.
From this the Trump Administration have been keen on the U.S northern neighbour becoming the “52nd State” and joining the U.S.
However has been hit with hard opposition by the not only the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney but also the Canadian people.
According to Polls done last year three quarters of Canadians dislike President Trump over his threats towards Canada and this number would have likely increased due to Trump’s Liberation day tariffs and economic aggression, which have drove prices up.
Moving away from this, the Trump Administration, swiftly after abducting Venezuelan President Nicolos Maduro, implemented a oil blockade on Venezuela’s closest ally Cuba.
The U.S has forced Venezuela to cease all Oil trade with Cuba, and labelled the Cuban government an “extraordinary threat” to national security.
Furthermore the Trump Administration has warned that any country who tries to sell Oil to Cuba will be hit with Tariffs.
The Cuban Government has slammed the decision by the U.S Government labelling it as “fascist, criminal and genocidal”, and stated his country was “close to failing” and are drawing up rationing plans.
From this state of chaos in Cuba, Mexico confirmed that they have sent 800 tons of logistical aid to Cuba.
The Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that her administration were exploring multiple diplomatic measure to allow the country to start sending oil to Cuba, however must stay in line, to avoid escalation from the Trump Administration.
The U.S Government has reiterated its presence in the Western Hemisphere by reaffirming the Monroe Doctrine and adding a “Trump Corollary” to it.
The Security Strategy identifies three threats, that being migration, drugs, crime.
Any country that has been seen to go against U.S Interests in the region is seen as a hostile power, as we have seen with the Overthrow of Nicolas Maduro Regime.