In a dramatic escalation of foreign policy, US President Donald Trump has issued a series of stark warnings to multiple nations following the military capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The operation, which saw Maduro seized from his home on a military base last Saturday, has triggered a wave of geopolitical threats aimed at asserting American dominance.
Maduro's Arrest and the Immediate Fallout
Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured by American troops in a surprise operation on Saturday, 3 January 2026. The Venezuelan president is now set to face a New York court, where he will be charged with a catalogue of serious offences. These include narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. If convicted, he could face decades to life in prison for each count.
The arrest marks the culmination of months of US military action against what it called Venezuelan "drug boats," coupled with a significant buildup of American assets near Venezuela's Caribbean coast and a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers.
A Catalogue of Global Threats
In the wake of the arrest, President Trump has followed through with threats against several countries, boasting that "American dominance in the Western hemisphere will never be questioned again." The nations now in Trump's crosshairs represent a diverse mix of regional neighbours and long-standing adversaries.
Colombia and Mexico in the Firing Line
Trump has directly warned Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a vocal international critic, that his country could be next for US military action. The US sanctioned Petro last autumn, with Trump blaming him for failing to curb drug trafficking. In inflammatory remarks aboard Air Force One, Trump labelled Colombia as "very sick" and run by "a sick man" involved in the cocaine trade, suggesting military action was a possibility.
Similarly, Mexico has again become a target. Trump has repeatedly blamed the government, now led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, for the flow of drugs and migrants. He claims to have offered US military assistance to "root out" cartels, an offer Sheinbaum has rebuffed, asserting Mexican sovereignty and rejecting foreign intervention.
Greenland, Iran, and Cuba Under Pressure
In a surprising turn, fears are growing over US intentions towards Greenland. Trump told The Atlantic magazine that America "absolutely" needs the mineral-rich, self-governing Danish territory for defence. This was followed by a provocative social media post from a senior aide's wife showing Greenland in American colours with the word "soon." Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has firmly stated the US has no right to annex any part of the Danish kingdom.
Further afield, Trump has threatened Iran, a long-term adversary, warning on Truth Social that the US is "locked and loaded" to intervene if the regime violently cracks down on ongoing cost-of-living protests. Meanwhile, following Maduro's capture, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated Cuba—a key Venezuelan ally—was "in a lot of trouble." Trump himself speculated that the loss of Venezuelan oil income means Cuba is "ready to fall," potentially without direct US intervention.
An Unpredictable Path Forward
The capture of Nicolas Maduro has opened a new and volatile chapter in US foreign relations. Trump's threats against Colombia, Mexico, Greenland, Iran, and Cuba signal a willingness to use military force and coercive diplomacy far beyond the initial Venezuela crisis. As Maduro's legal proceedings begin in New York, the international community is watching closely to see if these warnings translate into action, potentially destabilising multiple regions and testing alliances.
