After Venezuela, which countries could the US target next?
The US military's intervention in Venezuela, capturing President Maduro, marks a significant escalation in Trump's foreign policy. This action, coupled with 'oil quarantine' enforcement, hints at a broader offensive strategy. Trump has also issued threats or warnings to Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, Iran, and Greenland, raising global tensions. The UN Security Council is now meeting to address these deepening international crises and US military actions.
New Delhi: The US carried out air raids on Venezuela and captured its president Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Amid the mounting political crisis, the United Nations Security Council is set to convene an emergency meeting to discuss the US military action.
On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington would not assume a day-to-day governing role in Venezuela, clarifying that its role would be limited to enforcing an existing "oil quarantine”. His remarks marked a turnaround from President Donald Trump’s statement a day earlier indicating that the US would run Venezuela after the ouster of Maduro.
Speculation is mounting over Washington’s next moves. A question that is swirling is that does the action in Venezuela hint at a wider US offensive strategy and which countries could Trump be targeting? Notably, in recent weeks, the Trump administration has sounded strict warnings to countries it claims are acting against US interests. These countries include Colombia, Mexico, and Iran. Trump has also renewed its threat against Greenland and put pressure on Cuba as well. While the administration has warned of possible military action against Colombia and Mexico, it has issued a 20-day deadline to Greenland. Meanwhile, protests in Iran, which Tehran alleges are being sponsored by Washington, have further intensified tensions, raising concerns that the crisis could escalate beyond diplomatic pressure.
Colombia
On Monday, Trump clearly said that there was a possibility of military action against Colombia. In an interaction with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump dubbed Colombia as "very sick" and alleged that its leadership was fuelling the cocaine trade into the US. "They are sending it into the United States,” Trump said.
In an apparent reference to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Trump alleged that the country was being led by "a sick man” connected to drug production and trafficking.
When he was asked if the US would consider a military action against Colombia, Trump quipped, "It sounds good to me." Trump claimed that Colombia is home to at least three major cocaine factories.
Condemning US strikes on Venezuela, Colombia called them "state terrorism". In a statement, the Petro government warned that the threat extended across the region. "All nations of the region must remain alert, as the threat hangs over all," it said.
Mexico
Mexico is also on US radar. On Saturday, in an interview with Fox News, Trump alleged that drug cartels were running Mexico. He added that decisive action was inevitable. He claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had turned down US proposals to directly target drug cartels.
Trump pointed out: "They're running Mexico. I have asked her numerous times, would you like us to take out the cartels? 'No, no, no, Mr President, no, no, no, please'. Something is going to have to be done with Mexico."
Cuba
Trump has also suggested that US military intervention in Cuba may not be necessary. "Cuba is about to be down for the count," he said. The US President called it a failing nation and claimed it was close to collapse on its own. Trump has pointed out that his concern was driven towards ordinary citizens, saying the United States wanted to help people in Cuba as well as those who had fled the country. His comments suggest that, if required, the US administration won't hesitate to escalate economic and diplomatic pressure to speed up political change. Trump also hinted that Washington was prepared to back opposition forces through non-military measures.
Greenland
Trump has been threatening to gain control of Greenland since he assumed office in January last year, saying that he would not rule out the use of "military or economic coercion" to achieve that goal. The Trump administration has underlined national security issues, Arctic geopolitics, and Greenland’s vast reserves of critical minerals and natural resources as important factors behind Washington’s interest in gaining control over the territory.
In his latest threat, Trump said "we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense". In a sharp reaction, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Sunday that the US has no right to annex Greenland, calling on Washington to stop issuing threats against a close ally and the people of Greenland. "The United States has no right to annex" any of the three parts of the Danish Realm -- Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Frederiksen stressed.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the prime minister of Greenland, said in a statement: "When the President of the United States says that ‘we need Greenland’ and links us to Venezuela and military intervention, it’s not just wrong. It’s disrespectful.”
Norway and the European Union have also raised strong objections to Trump's rhetoric on annexation of Greenland.
Iran
Recent protests raging in Iran are apparently over the country's plunging currency. However, Iranian authorities have claimed that the agitations are backed by the US. On the other hand, the Trump administration has repeatedly alleged Tehran of destabilising the region and orchestrating unrest.
As relations between the two countries continue to nosedive, fears are growing that the standoff could intensify, with the US escalating diplomatic and economic pressure into a more direct standoff.