One day the secretary of the American treasure and operator of the most conservative sectors of the North American financial establishment, is boasting about how his country is largely regaining control and influence Latin America without firing a single shot or encouraging coups as in the years of leadership and orders of the Cold War.
Another day, the theatrical current tenant of the White House He boasts of his country’s power and deploys the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford (the largest in the world) in Caribbean waters and a flotilla of fighter aircraft in Puerto Rico and small satellite islands and begins a series of missile attacks on small boats believed to be fleet vehicles Drug traffickingagainst which he will fight relentlessly.
The largest military operation in the region in recent decades, accompanied by a formal ultimatum to hand over power to the current executive branch Venezuelaled by Nicolas Madurois also a shot by elevation to other nations whose governments are not docile or enthusiastic allies of Washington and remain under the prying hand of those who embody the resurrection of the United States more than 200 years later Monroe Doctrine.
The one-sided offensive that began in early September and included bombings Peacefulhas already destroyed more than twenty boats and caused at least 87 deaths. Two of these removed executions of people who were tagged Southern Command Labeled “drug terrorists” and referred to as “simple fishermen” by relatives, who are now demanding punishment for those responsible for their deaths and reparations for what happened have put the current Defense Minister (renamed War Minister) under the microscope. Pete Hegseth.
Milei presented the F-16 and made it the flag of his military narrative
In it congress There are Americans who, not only in the Democratic Party, are taking action against the head of the party Pentagon possibly responsible for a war crime against two survivors of the attack on one of the boats. They clung to the remains of the destroyed boat and called for help when they were hit by a new missile, the launch of which was supported by an order from Hegseth. “These two people tried to survive and our rules of engagement do not allow us to kill survivors,” the Republican representative claimed days ago at the Capitol. Don Bacon.
Legality and forms that often contradict the logic of the “war on drugs,” which is based on the glassy justifications of the “war on terrorism,” hardly matter to a figure like Hegseth, as he said in an interview with the network last April fox that the United States should “regain its lost backyard against China.”
The thesis exists parallel to print and weapon language BessentArchitect of the touted $20 billion swap that the Argentine president bragged about agreeing, Javier Milei and his economics minister, Luis Caputoas an election strategy for October, the implementation of which remains uncertain until well into December. “I would rather use peace through economic strength than shoot at drug boats when the government fails,” said the head of the North American Treasury Department days ago.
Corleone diplomacy
Speculation aside, the truth is that the foreign policy of the government of Trump consists of doling out rewards and punishments, using the carrot and stick strategy, or resorting to tactics that seem more typical of the Corleone family The Godfatherthat relationships based on respect for international law sovereignty of countries and the self-determination of peoples.
In his “backyard” and less than a year into his second term, the Republican magnate has already had blatant interference or interventions in electoral processes such as those of Argentina or Hondurasthrough political support or “bailouts” which are then responsible for making it clear that they are not such, much less that they will be free. He also used the punishment of Dutyeven trying to distort a judgment from the highest judicial authorities Brazil against his friend, the former right-wing extremist president Jair Bolsonaroconvicted of the January 2023 coup attempt.
The increase in contributions to the fund puts the unions on a war footing and sparks debate in the unicameral parliament
It is clear that what is causing concern in the region and in much of the world today is the escalation of tensions with their epicenter in Venezuela, especially since Trump added to his announcement the military operation he had authorized in the Caribbean covert operations the CIA, or after taking into account the so-called Poster of the Suns as a terrorist organization.
Meanwhile, in Trump’s geostrategic board, Bessent and his people, things were happening and will continue to happen. In chiliFor example, there are signs that power will change hands, as it has every four years for the past 20 years. After the triumph of Jeannette Jaraa victory for the extreme right is expected José Antonio Kast. Also integrated into the new regional map Rodrigo Paz PereiraWinners in Bolivia after the collapse of the MAS and the dispute between Luis Arce And Evo Morales.
Inconsistencies and justified fears
Rubio showed his fundamentalism when he tried to justify Trump’s positions threatening military actions against countries where they take place. Drugs but at the same time pardons the former Honduran ruler Juan Orlando Hernándezconvicted in the United States of Drug trafficking.
The United States moved its chips in the Honduran elections as well as in Argentina’s October 26 general election. As these lines are being written, the right wing is Asfura exceeded Nasralla by about 20,000 votes, in a late recount and with complaints from Fraud.
All of this is happening as versions of the Maduro government’s immediate future evolve, from possible exile to possible exile military intervention North American. Meanwhile, the opposition leader Maria Corina Machado He announced that he would be there Oslo to get that Nobel Peace Prizewherever I would be Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutiawho lives in exile Spainand managers like Milei, Noboa And Mulino.
Trump will have to make do with that for now Peace FIFAas warnings Mexico, Colombia And Brazil in the face of armed action perceived to be “imminent” through various means.