Countries that Trump may have in mind after Venezuela

US President Donald Trump has been clearly indicating his diplomatic ambitions and aggressive policy of expanding international influence since the beginning of his second term. Trump has highlighted the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a dramatic operation in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, as part of his new foreign policy. He is calling it the 'Donro Doctrine', which analysts believe is a modern and stricter version of the historic Monroe Doctrine of 1823.

Immediately after the Venezuela incident, the Trump administration's tough message to several countries in Washington's sphere of influence has raised concerns in the international arena. Among these countries, Greenland, Colombia, Iran, Mexico and Cuba have come into particular discussion.

In Trump's view, Greenland is now strategically very important. Although the United States already operates military installations there, including a space base, Trump has expressed his interest in taking control of the entire island. In his words, “We need Greenland for national security reasons.” He claimed that the region is becoming crowded with Russian and Chinese ships. Greenland, rich in rare mineral resources, is important for smartphones, electric vehicles and military technology, which has increased its geopolitical value.

However, Greenland Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen has described Trump’s proposal as “fantastical.” The Danish Prime Minister has also warned that the situation could be seriously complicated if military pressure is applied to a NATO member state.

After the Venezuelan operation, Trump has turned his attention to another important Latin American country, Colombia. In a direct warning to the country’s President Gustavo Petro, Trump said that Colombia is now “in the hands of a sick man.” The country, a major producer of oil, gold, silver, emeralds and coal, is also one of the centers of the global drug trade. When asked whether the United States could launch a military operation against Colombia, Trump replied, “Sounds good to me.” Although historically, Colombia has been a close ally of Washington in the war on drugs and receives huge military aid from the United States every year.

In the Middle East, Trump is also eyeing Iran. The country is currently in the midst of anti-government protests. Trump has warned that the United States will take strong action if the protests continue to cause more deaths. He also threatened to take further action against the regime after last year's attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, which is feared to push the region towards a new conflict.

Trump's relations with his North American neighbor Mexico have also been tense. Trump, who promised to build a wall on the border during his 2016 election campaign, signed an executive order in 2025 to rename the Gulf of Mexico "Gulf of the Americas." He alleges that Mexico is not doing enough to prevent drug trafficking and illegal immigration to the United States.

In the Caribbean, Cuba is also under the Trump administration's watch. Cuba, a close ally of Venezuela, has long been under strict US sanctions. The island nation, located just 90 miles from Florida, has been under embargo since the 1960s. According to Trump, there is no need for direct military intervention in Cuba, as the country is already “on the verge of collapse.” He claimed that a large part of Cuba’s income used to come from Venezuela.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in this regard that the United States must be very careful about regime change in Cuba. In his words, “When the president speaks, it should be taken seriously.”

In all, international analysts believe that the names of the countries that are emerging as targets of Trump’s foreign policy after Venezuela indicate renewed instability and uncertainty in world politics.

Source: BBC Bangla