Many of the White House’s foreign policy actions on the eve of the United States’ 250th anniversary are attributed to domestic political reasons.

The three largest powers—Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia—condemned the US actions. Some right-wing governments, like those in Argentina, El Salvador, and Ecuador, welcomed President Trump. Most countries, however, chose to preserve silence, fearing to draw Washington’s attention. Trump explicitly stated his intention to control America. He proclaimed that “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never again be questioned.”

The capture of Venezuela’s president was followed by threats against Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico, together with his habitual statements about turning Canada into the 51st US state.

The mainstream American media immediately opposed Trump. On January 3, 2026, The New York Times published an editorial entitled “Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise.”

Assessing these Washington actions and Trump’s intent to seize Greenland from Denmark, newspapers juxtaposed them with manifestations of American imperialism, ranging from “gunboat diplomacy” and “banana wars” to full-scale colonial prevalence. This made traditional allies wonder if the world was returning to an era of great powers and vassal states.

Many Western newspapers assumed that Maduro’s abduction was linked to Trump’s desire to control all oil sources in the Western Hemisphere. In this regard, an analysis by the Qatari site Al Jazeera may be of particular interest. It claims that while Venezuela possesses the world’s largest oil reserves (300 billion barrels) with US accusations of Maduro’s involvement in narcoterrorism not holding water, the main driver of White House policy is actually domestic political considerations, the role of the electorate and elite networks in Florida in particular.

How Florida Shapes US Foreign Policy

With 31 electoral votes, Florida remains a key swing state in presidential elections. Even a small gap and a minor shift among key voter groups can determine national outcomes. In this state, a significant electoral bloc is formed by voters of Cuban origin, as well as those from Venezuela. At the centre of this dynamic is Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State and a Florida native, whose political biography is closely tied with confronting leftist governments in Latin America. Rubio’s family fled communist Cuba, and he has consistently advocated for a confrontational policy........

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