The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has triggered a sharp escalation in US rhetoric towards parts of Latin America. US President Donald Trump has warned Colombia and Mexico of consequences if they fail to curb the flow of illicit drugs into the United States, while also suggesting that Cuba—long aligned with Venezuela—is nearing economic and political collapse. These statements go beyond the historical shadow of the Monroe Doctrine and reflect a convergence of concerns over ideology, narcotics, migration, and shifting geopolitical alliances.
More Than the Monroe Doctrine at Play
The Monroe Doctrine framed Latin America as a sphere of US influence, but Trump’s posture reflects contemporary anxieties. Drug trafficking, undocumented migration, and the rise of left-leaning governments with ties to non-Western powers have combined to sharpen Washington’s response. A joint statement by Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay warned that US actions set a “dangerous precedent” that threatens regional peace and civilian security.
Colombia: From Close Ally to Uneasy Partner
has been Washington’s closest security partner in South America for over two decades. Since the US–Colombia Free Trade Agreement came into force in 2012, the US has remained Colombia’s largest trading partner, accounting for roughly a third of its trade. Colombia is also a key exporter of crude oil, coffee, and flowers to the US.
Yet, Colombia is simultaneously the world’s largest producer of cocaine and coca, accounting for more than two-thirds of global output. US-backed anti-drug efforts reduced political violence and helped demobilise armed groups, but coca cultivation and cocaine production have expanded since 2013.
Relations deteriorated after the election of President Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first leftist leader. Petro has resisted US-backed drug policies, shown interest in BRICS+, and cut ties with Israel. While the Biden administration designated Colombia a major non-NATO ally in 2022, tensions deepened under Trump. In early 2025, Washington threatened punitive measures after Bogotá briefly refused to accept deportation flights. Petro has since described US actions against Venezuela as an assault on Latin American sovereignty.
Mexico: Trade Integration, Security Friction
The US and share deep economic integration. Mexico was the US’s largest trading partner in 2023, with bilateral trade nearing $800 billion, boosted by the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).
However, the 3,145-km border remains a source of tension. The movement of undocumented migrants and illicit drugs—especially fentanyl, a synthetic opioid largely produced and trafficked through Mexico—has dominated US political discourse. Trump’s earlier promise of a border wall became a defining symbol of his immigration stance, though its implementation was limited.
In his second term, Trump revived the wall project, announced tariffs on Mexico over fentanyl flows, designated several Latin American criminal groups as Foreign Terrorist Organisations, and even floated the idea of drone strikes and US troop deployments against Mexican cartels. These proposals were firmly rejected by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, underscoring Mexico’s sensitivity to sovereignty concerns.
Cuba: Old Hostilities, New Pressures
US relations with have been historically adversarial. Following the Cuban Revolution led by , Havana aligned with the Soviet Union, prompting decades of US sanctions, a failed invasion at the Bay of Pigs, and its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Limited normalisation under President Barack Obama—marked by eased travel, restored diplomatic ties, and removal of the terrorism designation—was reversed during Trump’s first term. Sanctions were tightened, oil supplies from Venezuela were targeted, and Cuba was redesignated as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Cuba’s economy, heavily dependent on Venezuelan oil and tourism, has struggled since 2020. GDP contraction and high inflation have deepened economic distress. Trump has now argued that Maduro’s removal will further weaken Cuba, pushing it closer to economic collapse and increasing its reliance on Russia and China.
Regional Implications and Strategic Concerns
Trump’s threats highlight a broader recalibration of US engagement with Latin America—one that prioritises coercive tools over diplomacy. For many regional governments, the concern is not only immediate instability but also the precedent such actions set for sovereignty and regional order.
The convergence of drug control, migration management, ideological contestation, and great-power rivalry suggests that US–Latin America relations may enter a more confrontational phase, with consequences extending well beyond Colombia, Mexico, and Cuba.
What to Note for Prelims?
- Monroe Doctrine and its relevance to US–Latin America relations.
- USMCA as the framework for US–Mexico trade.
- Colombia’s role in global cocaine production.
- Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
What to Note for Mains?
- Changing nature of US influence in Latin America.
- Impact of drug trafficking and migration on foreign policy.
- Implications of sanctions and military threats for regional stability.
- Latin America in the context of US–China–Russia strategic competition.
