Now that the United States has deposed and arrested the president of Venezuela, many are wondering what these developments mean for that country, and what the U.S. raid could mean for other nations that President Donald Trump and his aides have threatened. As the fallout of the Venezuelan raid continues, the Trump administration has indicated that several other countries could potentially be next in line for U.S. intervention.
Trump administration signals other Latin American countries could be next
The Trump administration launched a surprise military raid into Venezuela on Saturday, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and bringing him to New York City, where he has been indicted on federal charges. Trump indicated in a press conference that day that the United States would “run” Venezuela, though the details and timeline of such an arrangement remain unclear. Trump and his top officials have also indicated that other countries could be next. When Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the first Cuban American to hold this position, was asked by NBC News’ Kristen Welker if the Cuban government was “the Trump administration’s next target” for U.S. intervention, Rubio responded, “Well, the Cuban government is a huge problem,” and “I think they’re in a lot of trouble.”
“Colombia’s very sick, too. Run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, and he’s not going to be doing it very long,” Trump said in a Sunday interview with News Nation. When asked if this meant there would be “an operation” against Colombia, Trump responded, “It sounds good to me.”
In another exchange with reporters, Trump said, “Mexico has to get their act together” concerning drugs crossing the border into the United States, adding, “We’re going to have to do something.”
Response from Greenland after Trump’s threats to US allies
Trump’s invasion threats have not been limited to Latin America or allegations of drug smuggling. Since winning reelection in 2024, Trump has indicated a desire to take territory from countries that have generally had friendly relationships with the U.S. Trump has repeatedly taunted Canada, indicating that he wanted to turn the nation into the 51st U.S. state; questions over how to stand up to Trump contributed to longtime Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau eventually stepping down last year. Trump has also threatened to seize control of the Panama Canal and to take over Greenland, a semi-autonomous island that is part of Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded to Trump, calling on “the United States to cease its threats against a historically close ally, and against another country and another people who have stated very clearly that they are not for sale.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen responded to Trump on social media, saying that the suggestion the U.S. would take control of the territory by force “is not only wrong. It is disrespectful.” Nielsen declared, “Enough is enough. No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation,” insisting that “Greenland is our home and our territory. And it will remain so.”
The attack on Venezuela is the latest demonstration of an increasingly aggressive foreign policy of the second Trump administration, which has also included bombing nuclear facilities in Iran last summer and ISIS-affiliated terrorist camps in Nigeria in December. These actions indicate that Trump’s threats of military action against other countries, even those allied to the United States, must be taken seriously.