President Trump‘s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend might be the first step of a larger military effort against Latin American countries.
The big picture: As Trump looks to assert his own version of the Monroe Doctrine, his administration has shown little hesitation to act in Latin America through controversial boat strikes and pointed threats that align with the president’s broader war on drugs.
- After Maduro’s capture, Trump immediately teased potential military action in Cuba, Colombia and Mexico, which were among the countries that denounced the U.S. operation in Venezuela, warning that the attack put the region’s stability at risk.
It’s unclear how serious the Trump administration is about military action in the region.
- « As President Trump outlined in his National Security Strategy, the administration is reasserting and enforcing the Monroe Doctrine to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere, control migration, and stop drug trafficking, » White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Axios.
Here are the countries to watch.
Colombia
Military action against Colombia isn’t out of the question, according to Trump, whose ire with the nation centers around the country’s cocaine factories.
- « Colombia is very sick, » Trump said over the weekend.
- Trump said Saturday that Colombian President Gustavo Petro, an ally of Maduro, is « making cocaine. They’re sending it into the United States. So he does have to watch his ass. »
- When asked if there would be a U.S. operation in Colombia, Trump responded: « Sounds good to me. »
Flashback: Last month, Trump made similar comments, saying Petro « is a troublemaker, and he better watch it. »
- « They make cocaine in Colombia, and he’s no friend of the United States, » Trump said in December.
- On the cocaine factories, Trump said last month: « We know where they are, he better close them up fast. »
The other side: Petro previously accused Trump of violating the United Nations’ « founding principles, » alleging that one of Trump’s strikes off the coast of Venezuela targeted civilians.
- After the Maduro capture, Petro said on X that Colombia « reiterates its conviction that peace, respect for international law, and the protection of life and human dignity must prevail over any form of armed confrontation, » according to a translation of the remarks.
- He also appeared to taunt Trump on Monday, saying in a statement: « Come get me. I’m waiting for you here. Don’t threaten me, I’ll wait for you right here if you want to. »
Cuba
The Trump administration also teased Cuba as a nation to watch following the military operation in Venezuela.
- « I think Cuba is going to be something we’ll end up talking about, because Cuba is a failing nation right now, » Trump said over the weekend.
- « We want to help the people. It’s very similar in the sense that we want to help the people in Cuba, but we want to also help the people that were forced out of Cuba and living in this country. »
Friction point: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose parents fled Cuba, also hinted that the nation should be on alert for U.S. military action. Rubio has long attacked Cuba’s government throughout his political career.
- « If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned, » Rubio said Saturday.
Yes, but: Trump suggested Cuba might fall on its own without U.S. intervention.
- « Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall, » he said, adding: « I don’t think we need any action. It looks like it’s going down. »
Mexico
In the immediate hours after the Maduro capture, Trump signaled action against Mexico could be forthcoming.
- Trump has previously threatened strikes against the southern neighbor, a nation with which he’s had an uneasy relationship over the last decade.
- Per the Government Accountability Office, fentanyl typically comes to the U.S. from Mexico after being produced and supplied by China.
What they’re saying: « Something’s going to have to be done with Mexico, » Trump told Fox News’ « Fox & Friends » on Saturday.
- Trump said in the same interview that drug cartels were running Mexico and that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum « is very frightened of the cartels. »
- « They’re running Mexico. I’ve asked her numerous times would you like us to take out the cartels. ‘No, no, no, Mr. President, no, no, no, please.’ So we have to do something. »
In response, the Mexican government said in a statement that the U.S. violated the United Nations’ charter with its move against Venezuela.
- Sheinbaum appeared to endorse this message.
Does Trump want Greenland?
Zoom out: Questions about Trump’s intentions regarding Greenland popped up again following Maduro’s capture.
- Though not a Latin American country, Trump has teased a takeover of Greenland for months due to a broader defense strategy.
- « We do need Greenland, absolutely, » Trump told The Atlantic over the weekend. « We need it for defense. »
What they’re saying: Leaders of Greenland and Denmark urged Trump to cease with his takeover threats for Greenland, calling the talks « disrespectful » and « wrong. »
- « It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the U.S. to take over Greenland, » wrote Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Facebook.
More from Axios:
- U.S. ending « own global order »
- What to know about Trump’s escalating feud with Venezuela
- Trump brings American interventionism roaring back
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a statement from a White House spokesperson.