Trump’s Bad Neighbor Policy

For Donald Trump, who envisions a world divided into spheres of influence, U.S. domination in the region is a goal unto itself. “America’s dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again,” he told reporters just hours after the predawn raid involving aerial attacks on multiple Venezuelan airports and the forcible rendition of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Asked what would be next for Venezuela, Trump answered, “We’re going to be running it.” So much for his promise of no more nation-building.

“Welcome to 2026,” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared on Saturday during the Mar-a-Lago press conference celebrating the U.S. military attack on Venezuela. “Under President Trump, America is back.” Back, that is, to the early 1900s era of gunboat and dollar diplomacy when the United States aspired to imperial hegemony over Latin America, engendering enmities that have never entirely dissipated.

“Welcome to 2026,” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared on Saturday during the Mar-a-Lago press conference celebrating the U.S. military attack on Venezuela. “Under President Trump, America is back.” Back, that is, to the early 1900s era of gunboat and dollar diplomacy when the United States aspired to imperial hegemony over Latin America, engendering enmities that have never entirely dissipated.

For Donald Trump, who envisions a world divided into spheres of influence, U.S. domination in the region is a goal unto itself.