Venezuela
ISLAMABAD: United States President Donald Trump has issued a series ofpointed threats against six nations in his latest remarks aboard Air ForceOne, coming barely days after American forces captured Venezuelan PresidentNicolás Maduro in a dramatic military operation. Speaking to reporters onJanuary 4, 2026, Trump warned Iran against suppressing protesters withsevere consequences, predicted the imminent collapse of Cuba’s government,cautioned Venezuela’s interim leadership, criticised Colombia’s presidentas unfit, urged Mexico to act decisively on border issues, and reiteratedthe need for the United States to acquire Greenland from Denmark. Thesestatements have heightened international concerns over potential further USinterventions, building suspense around whether such rhetoric signals moreaggressive foreign policy moves in the region and beyond.
The threats follow the US raid in Venezuela that removed Maduro, who nowfaces charges in New York related to drug trafficking and weapons. Trumpasserted that the United States remains in control of Venezuela and hintedat a possible second strike if the new administration under Vice PresidentDelcy Rodríguez fails to cooperate fully. This operation, described byanalysts as a bold assertion of American dominance in the WesternHemisphere, has set the stage for the broader warnings, leaving observersquestioning which nation might face next pressure or action amid risinggeopolitical friction.
On Iran, Trump specifically addressed ongoing protests triggered byeconomic hardships including rapid inflation and currency devaluation. Hestated that if the government violently cracks down on peacefuldemonstrators, the United States would intervene decisively, describingAmerican forces as locked and loaded. This comes after previous US strikeson Iranian nuclear facilities, raising fears of escalation in the MiddleEast where Tehran has already condemned Washington’s actions in Venezuelaas violations of sovereignty.
Cuba received particularly ominous commentary as Trump declared itsgovernment ready to fall without direct military involvement. He arguedthat the loss of economic support from Venezuela, previously a key oilsupplier, has left Havana vulnerable. Cuban leaders, including PresidentMiguel Díaz-Canel, have rallied in support of Maduro and vowed to defendtheir alliances, while rejecting any notion of collapse amid the island’slong history of resilience against external pressures.
Colombia faced the sharpest personal attack with Trump labelling PresidentGustavo Petro a sick man involved in cocaine production and traffickinginto the United States. When pressed on potential military action, Trumpresponded that such an operation sounds good, escalating tensions withBogotá where Petro has vowed to defend the nation militarily if needed. Thetwo countries have been at odds over US boat strikes targeting drug routes,and Petro’s past guerrilla background adds layers to the confrontation.
Mexico was urged by Trump to take immediate action, presumably on migrationand drug cartels, with warnings that failure to do so would carry heavyconsequences. President Claudia Sheinbaum has criticised US actions inVenezuela as breaches of international law, while Mexico continues tograpple with fentanyl flows originating from China but transiting throughits territory, complicating bilateral relations under the currentadministration’s hardline stance.
Finally, Trump revived his long-standing demand for Greenland, emphasisingits strategic importance for national security amid perceived Russian andChinese activities in the Arctic. He stated plainly that the United Statesneeds Greenland and Denmark cannot adequately manage it. Danish PrimeMinister Mette Frederiksen firmly rejected the idea, asserting no rightexists for annexation and highlighting existing defence agreements grantingUS access, while Greenland’s leadership dismissed the rhetoric asdisrespectful and unacceptable.
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These multifaceted threats have drawn widespread condemnation and calls forrestraint from allies and adversaries alike. Denmark, a NATO partner, hasinvoked the alliance’s protections, while Latin American nations includingBrazil and Chile have jointly rejected unilateral force. Analysts suggestTrump’s approach aims to coerce compliance through displays of power ratherthan immediate widespread conflict, though the risks of miscalculationremain high in this volatile period.
The remarks underscore a broader shift in US foreign policy towardassertive unilateralism, particularly in countering leftist governments inLatin America and securing strategic assets. With reactions pouring in fromcapitals worldwide, the international community watches closely for signsof whether these warnings will translate into further actions or serveprimarily as leverage in ongoing disputes.
Source:https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/04/us/politics/trump-cuba-greenland-colombia.html
Tags: Donald Trump, United States, Venezuela, Colombia, Greenland, Iran
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