Trump has increasingly framed US policy through the lens of a revived 1823 “Monroe Doctrine” that promises US supremacy in the western hemisphere – re-branding it the “Donroe Doctrine”.
The last few months of US foreign policy have becoming increasingly focused on Latin America and the left-wing leaders with whom he has ideological differences, with US actions justified as combatting drug trafficking.
After the unprecedented raid on Caracas, Trump said a military operation targeting Colombia “sounds good” and has repeatedly told its President Gustavo Petro to “watch his ass”. The US imposed sanctions on Petro – Colombia’s first left-wing leader – in October, saying he was allowing drug cartels to “flourish”.
Trump has also said that drugs were “pouring” through Mexico into the US, adding “we’re gonna have to do something”. The US president he has offered to send US troops to Mexico to combat cartels, but President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly rejected any US military action on Mexican soil.
The US and Cuba have had a strained relationship since the communist Fidel Castro overthrew a US-backed government in 1959.
While steps were taken to improve diplomatic relations, particularly under former US President Barack Obama, the Trump administration has reversed many of these moves.
Shortly after being sworn in to a second term, Trump reinstated Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, which had been lifted just days before by the then-President Joe Biden.
Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Sunday: “Those who turn everything into a business, even human lives, have no moral authority to point fingers at Cuba for anything, absolutely anything.
“Those who today hysterically rail against our nation do so out of rage over the sovereign decision of this people to choose their political model.”
