Potential Targets of Trump's Foreign Policy After Venezuela

Thu Jan 08 2026 02:33:10 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As President Trump embarks on a controversial second term, his foreign policy ambitions are drawing attention. With an aggressive approach against Venezuela, speculation arises about which countries could be next on his radar.

In the wake of a bold operation in Venezuela, President Trump's foreign policy intentions are coming into focus. He has issued warnings to several nations including Greenland, Colombia, Iran, Mexico, and Cuba, each of which could be affected by his renewed assertiveness on global dominance.

US President Donald Trump's second term is being shaped by his foreign policy ambitions. He's followed through on threats against Venezuela by capturing its president and his wife from their heavily fortified Caracas compound in a dramatic overnight raid.

When describing the operation, Trump dusted off the 1823 Monroe Doctrine and its promise of US supremacy in the western hemisphere - rebranding it the 'Donroe Doctrine'. Here are some of the warnings he's made against other nations in Washington's orbit in recent days.

Greenland

The US already has a military base on Greenland - Pituffik Space Base - but Trump wants the whole island. \u201cWe need Greenland from the standpoint of national security\u201d, he told journalists, saying the region was \u201ccovered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.\u201d Greenland is rich in rare earth minerals, crucial for the production of smartphones, electric vehicles, and military hardware. Greenland's Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen responded, describing the notion of US control over the island as a 'fantasy'.

Colombia

Just hours after the operation in Venezuela, Trump warned Colombian President Gustavo Petro to \u201cwatch his ass\u201d. Colombia is a key hub for the region's drug trade. Since the US began striking boats in the Caribbean, Trump has been locked in a spiraling dispute with Colombia's left-wing president, suggesting that military action could be a possibility.

Iran

Trump has warned Iran that the authorities would be \u201chit very hard\u201d if more protesters die amid ongoing unrest in the nation. Although Iran theoretically falls outside the scope defined in the 'Donroe Doctrine', Trump's past threats against the Iranian regime signal continued military readiness in the region.

Mexico

Trump's rise to power was marked by calls to \u201cBuild the Wall\u201d along the southern border. He hinted at sending US troops to Mexico to combat powerful cartels, although Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly rejected the idea.

Cuba

Cuba has been under US sanctions since the early 1960s and was closely tied to Venezuela under Maduro. Trump remarked that military intervention might not be necessary, as Cuba seems \u201cready to fall\u201d without its Venezuelan oil support. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for regime change in Cuba, urging caution from Havana's current government.