US imperialism began 2026 with a bang. You don’t have to especially like Venezuela’s long-time ruler Nicolás Maduro to see his humiliating kidnapping by US troops and Donald Trump’s announcements as a momentous breach of international law. The commander-in-chief from the White House shows how he wants to implement his 21st century Monroe Doctrine: The South American country with the largest proven oil reserves in the world will, untill further notice, be lead by a committee with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others, Trump said his press conference on the day of the aggression in Florida. To finance this project, the production of the oil “that we should have gotten back a long time ago” is planned.
Exactly a month ago, when Washington presented its new National Security Strategy (NSS 2025), the countries of the “western Hemisphere” have been officially under threat. Nobody knows this better than the Latin Americans, as US interventions there are legion, starting with the war of conquest against Mexico from 1846 to 1848.
Although Barack Obama’s second Secretary of State John Kerry declared the Monroe Doctrine dead at the end of 2013, and an unprecedented thaw began between Washington and Havana at the time, many south of the Rio Grande remained skeptical. Four-star General Laura Richardson, head of the “Southern Command” responsible for Latin America and the Caribbean under Joe Biden, warned year after year of China’s “malign influence” in the region.
At the press conference in Florida, the US head of state repeated, in his usual vulgar manner, the threats against Cuba and Colombia’s head of state Gustavo Petro – the latter has already ordered the mobilization of troops on the border with Venezuela. Trump believes that Petro, like Maduro, is the head of a drug cartel.
George Bush Sr. made the same accusation.When US President kidnapped Panama’s ruler and long-time CIA agent Manuel Noriega 36 years ago. The number of civilian deaths in the last US invasion of Central America to date was in the thousands.
It is indeed currently uncertain how many Venezuelans died in the attacks on military and port facilities in various parts of the country on January 3rd. What we certainly know: In the more than 30 attacks on alleged or actual drug boats in the Caribbean or the Pacific that violated international law, at least 110 peopel have been virtually executed.
Furthermore, the case of juan Orlando Hernández, Honduran president from 2014 to 2022, shows what to make of US drug policy. Shortly before the most recent elections in the Central American country, Trump pardoned Nasry Asfura, a party colleague who had been sentenced to 4
Rising Tensions in Latin America: US Actions and Regional Polarization
Recent events signal a period of heightened tension and polarization in Latin America, marked by assertive US policy and growing skepticism towards Washington’s intentions. while a thaw in US-Cuba relations began under the Biden administration, concerns persist throughout the region, particularly regarding perceived US interference and the influence of external actors like China.
US concerns and Accusations
Four-star General Laura Richardson, head of the US Southern Command, has consistently warned of China’s growing “malign influence” in Latin America and the Caribbean. https://www.southcom.mil/ Former US President Donald Trump has leveled serious accusations against current leaders in the region, alleging that Colombian President Gustavo Petro and venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro are heads of drug cartels – a claim echoing similar accusations made by George H.W. Bush against panamanian leader Manuel Noriega in the 1980s. Noriega,a former CIA agent,was ultimately removed from power by a US invasion in 1989. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/u-s-invades-panama
Allegations of Extrajudicial Killings and Drug Policy Concerns
The text references over 30 attacks on vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in at least 110 deaths. These actions are described as potentially violating international law and amounting to extrajudicial killings.details surrounding these incidents remain contested, and autonomous verification is difficult.
concerns about US drug policy are further highlighted by the case of Juan orlando Hernández, the former President of Honduras (2014-2022). He was arrested in 2022 and convicted in 2024 on drug trafficking and weapons charges in the United States. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/honduras-ex-president-hernandez-sentenced-life-us-prison-drug-trafficking-2024-03-15/ Prior to his arrest,Trump pardoned Nasry Asfura,a political ally sentenced to 45 years in the US for drug trafficking,shortly before Asfura’s successful bid for the Honduran presidency in 2021. asfura is now succeeded by Xiomara Castro, a leftist leader.
Regional Reactions and Polarization
Trump’s assertive stance and support for right-wing candidates in the region – including Javier Milei in Argentina and José Antonio Kast in Chile – have been met with approval from conservative governments in Argentina, Ecuador, and El Salvador. This has contributed to a growing fragmentation and polarization within the subcontinent, a situation not seen since the 1970s. past discussions regarding a common South American defense policy or alternative drug policies have largely stalled.
Recent Developments and International Response
The text alludes to a direct US attack on a South American country, though specifics are not provided. Venezuela reported attacks on military and port facilities on January 3rd,the extent of damage and casualties remain unclear.
Notably, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has publicly condemned interventions that violate international law and destabilize Latin America and the Caribbean. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/spain-criticises-us-military-action-venezuela-2024-01-05/ This stance contrasts with the perceived lack of support from other European leaders like emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Friedrich Merz.
The overall outlook for the region remains uncertain, despite a ancient period of relative peace between South American nations. The text suggests that the region cannot rely on European powers for protection against potential US intervention.
Note: The original text contains some ambiguity regarding specific events and lacks precise details. This revised version incorporates verified information available as of January 5, 2026, and provides context where possible. Further examination is needed to fully understand the implications of the recent events in Venezuela and the broader geopolitical landscape of Latin America.