Trump Relishes Venezuela Raid
Hours after US special forces removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, Donald Trump was still praising the operation. From his Mar-a-Lago estate, he told Fox News the raid was “amazing work” and unlike anything else.
Trump seeks quick victories. Before starting his second term, he claimed ending the Russia-Ukraine war would take just a day. Venezuela represents the fast, decisive win he has wanted.
Maduro is now in a Brooklyn prison. The US will “run” Venezuela’s affairs, controlling millions of barrels of oil and how the profits are spent. So far, no Americans have died, and there is no prolonged occupation like in Iraq in 2003.
Ignoring Complexity
For now, Trump and his advisers publicly overlook Venezuela’s complexities. The country is larger than Germany and still plagued by corruption and internal factions. Despite this, Trump and officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth celebrate the operation. They stress that Trump is a president who acts decisively.
Trump has sent signals to Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, Greenland, and Denmark, suggesting they should be wary of his next moves.
The Donroe Doctrine
Trump has rebranded the Monroe Doctrine as the “Donroe Doctrine.” Monroe’s original policy from 1823 warned European powers not to interfere in the Western Hemisphere. Trump’s version intensifies it.
He told reporters that US dominance in the Americas “will never be questioned again.” Any rival, especially China, must stay out of Latin America. The policy also extends US interests north to Greenland.
Trump has framed the doctrine around raw power. Military and economic coercion, he suggests, will enforce US influence. Greenland is targeted for its strategic Arctic location and rare earth minerals, while Venezuela provides oil.
From Monroe to Modern Policy
Foreign policy doctrines have historically guided US presidents. Washington’s farewell address in 1796 warned against permanent alliances. For 150 years, the US largely followed isolationism.
The Truman Doctrine after World War Two marked a shift. It committed the US to support allies in Europe, leading to the Marshall Plan and NATO. That policy created the foundation for US-European cooperation, which Trump is now challenging.
Trump vs Alliances
Trump’s approach prioritizes unilateral action. His “America First” ideology emphasizes using US power freely, without concern for allies or international law. He treats friendships as transactional, requiring others to pay for US support.
Unlike his predecessors, Trump does not seek legitimacy through alliances or international rules. His belief in American strength and impunity drives his actions.
Risk of Returning to Empire-Era Politics
If Trump continues his current path, experts warn the world could revert to the age of empires. In such a system, large powers impose their will, dominate regions, and pursue narrow national interests—often causing widespread disaster.
