US President Donald Trump has made chilling threats multiple nations following US strikes on Venezuela
US President Donald Trump has issued alarming threats against five additional countries in the wake of his apparent success in Venezuela, where its leader Nicolas Maduro was ousted from power.
As the deposed Caracas leader appeared at a New York court today, world leaders are on edge wondering which nation Trump might target next in his alleged America-first strategy. Emboldened by Operation Absolute Resolve, Trump has issued threats and suggestions of military intervention against Greenland, Iran, Cuba, Mexico and Colombia, reports the Mirror.
Positioning himself firmly as the new global chief of police, he has repeatedly made suggestions about annexing Greenland, a territory belonging to NATO ally Denmark.
Here are five countries Trump could potentially move against next.
Greenland
Military experts view the Arctic island as critically important to US interests, serving as a vital location for missile warning infrastructure. Following Maduro’s removal, Trump declared: “We need Greenland. … It’s so strategic right now. Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”
Approximately 150 US military personnel operate Pituffic Base, a Cold War-era defence detection facility and space station built to identify incoming Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). However, Trump’s advisers believe the site requires significant enhancement and additional equipment to counter hypersonic missile threats.
ICBMs reach velocities of 15,000mph or Mach 20, but they follow higher trajectories through space and predictable paths upon re-entry, making them more vulnerable to interception. In contrast, hypersonic missiles operate at lower altitudes and can change course whilst travelling at Mach 10-17, or between 7,673mph and 13,044mph.
The Americans view Greenland as increasingly vital for early warning systems, as hypersonic missiles pose greater challenges to defence systems due to their lower approach angles. Trump has also recognised Greenland’s wealth of natural resources.
The territory possesses considerable untapped reserves of critical minerals, including rare earth elements, lithium, nickel, graphite and platinum group metals – all crucial for green technology.
Whilst the US President dismisses climate concerns, he hasn’t overlooked the opportunities arising from melting ice. Retreating ice sheets have improved access to resources, though large-scale extraction demands major investment and infrastructure development.
This presents America with a significant investment prospect.
Cuba
The Caribbean nation of Cuba has maintained longstanding Russian backing, shares close ties with Venezuela, and ranks amongst the region’s most impoverished islands. Under communist governance since 1961, relations with the United States have been marked by hostility and numerous security standoffs.
However, Trump anticipates that Maduro’s potential downfall would leave Cuba financially crippled, declaring the nation “ready to fall.
“I don’t think we need any action. It looks like it’s going down,” he said. However, Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned: “I don’t think it’s any mystery that we are not big fans of the Cuban regime. If I lived in Havana and I worked in the government, I’d be concerned.”
Iran
Iran also finds itself in the firing line, though any military operation there would represent a massive undertaking potentially triggering a Gulf War-style conflict spanning years. Given Tehran’s nuclear programme, such action would likely involve Israeli forces and fighter jets, possibly backed by numerous US allies including Britain.
Washington has already crossed the Rubicon on striking Iran, having destroyed significant portions of its nuclear facilities last year, making further aggression appear increasingly probable.
Colombia
Colombia has emerged as another potential target after Trump, when questioned about possible military action, responded “sounds good.”
The President didn’t hide his contempt for Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, branding the nation as being “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”
He escalated his rhetoric, declaring: “He’s not going to be doing it for very long. He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories. He’s not going to be doing it.”
Yet rather than full-scale war, Colombia seems more likely to face covert special forces raids on drug production facilities, which would be presented as triumphant operations safeguarding America from the cocaine trade.
Mexico
Mexico’s drugs production and the surge of migration into America has long exasperated Trump, who declared: “You have to do something with Mexico. Mexico has to get their act together” and improve efforts at “combatting drug trafficking.”
He revealed he had repeatedly offered US troops to Mexico, but alleged President Claudia Sheinbaum is “concerned, she’s a little afraid.”
Military action against Mexico remains a distinct possibility given it’s unlikely to retaliate, and Trump could deploy special forces to dismantle drug production facilities. He may calculate this would play well with his base.
