Trump's Bold Moves in Latin America: A New Era of US Intervention?
Trump's Assertive Stance on Latin America
Mexico City: During a recent press conference celebrating the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump articulated a bold vision for US influence in Latin America, highlighting the political shifts occurring from Mexico to Argentina as pro-Trump leaders emerge.
Trump declared, "American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again," just hours before Maduro was escorted through the offices of the US Drug Enforcement Administration in New York.
This event marked a significant escalation in the US's ongoing confrontation with Caracas, reminiscent of a historical period characterized by overt US intervention in the region.
Since taking office less than a year ago, Trump has made notable changes, including renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, launching naval strikes against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean, imposing a blockade on Venezuelan oil exports, and interfering in elections in Honduras and Argentina.
Through a mix of tariffs, sanctions, and military actions, he has compelled Latin American leaders to align with his administration's objectives, which include combating drug trafficking, curbing immigration, securing vital natural resources, and countering the influence of Russia and China.
This new, assertive foreign policy, which Trump refers to as the 'Donroe Doctrine'—a nod to 19th-century President James Monroe's belief in US dominance—has divided the hemisphere into allies and adversaries.
"The Trump administration is actively reshaping Latin American politics," stated Gimena Sanchez, Andes director for a Washington-based think tank. "They are demonstrating their power throughout the region."
Diverse Reactions to US Actions
The dramatic events of Saturday, including Trump's assertion that the US would 'run' Venezuela and take control of its oil resources, highlighted the stark divisions across the continent.
Argentine President Javier Milei, who shares Trump's ideology, described one faction as supporters of 'democracy, life, freedom, and property,' while labeling the opposing side as 'accomplices of a narco-terrorist dictatorship that has plagued our region.'
Other right-wing leaders in South America echoed Milei's sentiments, using Maduro's ousting to express their ideological alignment with Trump.
In Ecuador, conservative President Daniel Noboa warned followers of Hugo Chavez, Maduro's mentor, that 'your structure will completely collapse across the continent.'
In Chile, far-right President-elect José Antonio Kast celebrated the US raid as 'great news for the region.'
Conversely, leftist leaders in Latin America, including Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum, Chile's Gabriel Boric, and Colombia's Gustavo Petro, voiced serious concerns about what they perceived as US intimidation.
Lula described the raid as 'an extremely dangerous precedent,' while Sheinbaum cautioned that it 'jeopardizes regional stability.' Boric stated it 'violated a fundamental principle of international law,' and Petro condemned it as 'an aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and Latin America.'
Trump has previously threatened or punished these leaders for not complying with his demands while supporting allies who demonstrate loyalty.
Historical Context of US Intervention
For Lula, one of the last prominent figures from the 'pink tide' of leftist leaders in Latin America, Trump's military actions in Venezuela evoke memories of the worst instances of US interference in the region's politics.
These historical moments include the US military's occupation of Central American and Caribbean nations to protect American corporate interests in the early 1900s and Washington's backing of oppressive military regimes in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay during the 1970s to counter Soviet influence.
The historical parallels surrounding Maduro's downfall have sparked not only strong denunciations and protests from Trump's leftist opponents but also cautious reactions from some of his allies.
President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, typically a vocal supporter of Trump, remained unusually silent following Maduro's capture, sharing a meme mocking the leader but lacking the enthusiasm shown by other regional leaders.
In Bolivia, new conservative President Rodrigo Paz praised Maduro's removal as fulfilling 'the true popular will' of Venezuelans who sought to vote the autocrat out in a widely criticized 2024 election.
However, his statement quickly became outdated as Trump announced plans to collaborate with Maduro's loyalist vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, rather than the opposition that had emerged from the disputed election.
"The Trump administration seems to be making decisions about Venezuela's democratic future without regard for the democratic outcome," remarked Kevin Whitaker, a former deputy chief of mission for the State Department in Caracas.
When asked about the timeline for democratic elections in Venezuela, Trump replied, 'I think we’re looking more at getting it fixed.'
A Shift in Political Alliances
The Trump administration's actions in Venezuela reflect a broader strategy to cultivate a coalition of allied—or at least compliant—governments in Latin America, aligning with the political currents sweeping through much of the region.
Recent elections in countries from Chile to Honduras have brought to power tough, Trump-like leaders who oppose immigration, emphasize security, and promise a return to a more favorable past free from globalization and 'wokeness.'
"The president is seeking nations in the hemisphere that share his broader ideological vision," noted Alexander Grey, a senior fellow at a Washington research institute.
Those who do not align with this ideology have been warned. Trump stated that Cuba's Communist regime 'looks like it’s ready to fall,' criticized Sheinbaum for her inability to tackle Mexican cartels, and reiterated allegations against Petro, suggesting he 'likes making cocaine' and warning that 'he's not going to be doing it very long.'
"We aim to have neighboring countries that are viable and successful, where oil production is allowed to thrive," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.