Trump again highlighted the January U.S. military operation that captured Nicolás Maduro, boasting at the June G-7 that Venezuela was taken in “48 minutes” and saying Washington recouped the war’s cost “40 times” through oil gains.
The article argues that Latin America has become Trump’s strongest foreign-policy arena, where coercive tactics have won short-term cooperation on migration, security and curbing China’s influence even as his Iran policy faltered.
Mexico has become the clearest example: expanded intelligence sharing, extraditions of cartel figures and tighter migrant enforcement coincided with a 14% drop in U.S. overdose deaths in 2025 and a 22% fall in fentanyl deaths.
Support has come with visible backlash, including weaker U.S. favorability in regional polling, Brazil’s resistance after Trump pressured it over Jair Bolsonaro, and warnings from allied officials against becoming Washington’s “vassal.”
Venezuela remains the biggest test, with Delcy Rodríguez still ruling under U.S. tutelage after June earthquakes, inflation above 500%, and fears Trump may delay elections despite initially strong regional approval for Maduro’s removal.
Is the 'Donroe Doctrine' creating loyal allies or fueling a future anti-U.S. backlash across the continent?
Can Latin American nations afford to reject their top trade partner, China, to align with U.S. policy?
With Venezuelan oil profits now under U.S. control, will this money build a democracy or simply fund a new autocracy?
The 2026 U.S. Raid on Venezuela: Maduro’s Capture, International Backlash, and the Future of Interventionism
Overview
In January 2026, a U.S. nighttime military raid captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, ending his thirteen-year rule and marking a dramatic shift in Venezuela’s political landscape. President Donald Trump celebrated the operation as a victory, aiming to help Venezuela move beyond years of repression and economic hardship. After the raid, the Trump administration prioritized stability by working with the existing Venezuelan government, now led by interim Vice President Delcy Rodríguez. Her administration focused on regime survival and tried to meet U.S. demands, while Venezuela continued to face major economic and social challenges amid ongoing public protests and international scrutiny.