Donald Trump has suggested a potentially concerning ‘next move’ for one of the United States’ neighboring countries, following his announcement of capturing and detaining Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro.
The Venezuelan capital, Caracas, was targeted by the US military in the early morning hours of Saturday. Shortly thereafter, Trump shared on Truth Social that President Maduro, along with his wife Cilia Flores, had been apprehended and removed from the country.
With Venezuela’s leadership in flux, Trump declared that the United States would oversee the nation until it could establish a stable government.
During a press conference, he stated: “We are going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”
However, Venezuela might not be the only country on Trump’s radar. In a post-operation interview, he hinted at potential actions involving Mexico.
On Saturday, during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” on the Fox News network, host Griff Jenkins queried whether the operation was a ‘message’ to Mexico’s leader Claudia Sheinbaum.
Trump replied: “Well, it wasn’t meant to be, and we’re very friendly with her and she’s a good woman but the cartels are running Mexico. She’s not running Mexico.
“We could be politically correct and be nice and say, ‘Oh, yes, she is.’ No no. She’s very frightened of the cartels. They’re running Mexico. And I’ve asked her number times, ‘Would you like us to take out the cartels?'”
Trump continued discussing drug trafficking into the United States across its southern border, concluding with: “Something is gonna have to be done with Mexico.”
This rhetoric is similar to the language Trump used before acting against Venezuela, having criticized Maduro for months over allegations that his administration allowed drugs from Venezuela to enter the US.
In truth, the majority of drugs have entered through the Mexican border, with the US Government Accountability Office highlighting this as the primary source of fentanyl behind rising drug overdose deaths.
The office reported: “Much of this narcotic is being trafficked into the United States from Mexico, according to federal law enforcement. As part of efforts to combat trafficking, the Department of Homeland Security is targeting not just fentanyl itself, but also the chemicals and equipment used to make it that are largely coming from China.”
While addressing the US drug issue is crucial, preserving international sovereignty and adhering to international law are equally important.
Actions like the one Trump took to remove Maduro could be perceived as illegal and potentially alarming by many nations worldwide.