Many of the White House’s foreign policy actions on the eve of the United States’ 250th anniversary are attributed to domestic political reasons.
The three largest powers—Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia—condemned the US actions. Some right-wing governments, like those in Argentina, El Salvador, and Ecuador, welcomed President Trump. Most countries, however, chose to preserve silence, fearing to draw Washington’s attention. Trump explicitly stated his intention to control America. He proclaimed that “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never again be questioned.”
The capture of Venezuela’s president was followed by threats against Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico, together with his habitual statements about turning Canada into the 51st US state.
The mainstream American media immediately opposed Trump. On January 3, 2026, The New York Times published an editorial entitled “Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise.”
Assessing these Washington actions and Trump’s intent to seize Greenland from Denmark, newspapers juxtaposed them with manifestations of American imperialism, ranging from “gunboat diplomacy” and “banana wars” to full-scale colonial prevalence. This made traditional allies wonder if the world was returning to an era of great powers and vassal states.
Many Western newspapers assumed that Maduro’s abduction was linked to Trump’s desire to control all oil sources in the Western Hemisphere. In this regard, an analysis by the Qatari site Al Jazeera may be of particular interest. It claims that while Venezuela possesses the world’s largest oil reserves (300 billion barrels) with US accusations of Maduro’s involvement in narcoterrorism not holding water, the main driver of White House policy is actually domestic political considerations, the role of the electorate and elite networks in Florida in particular.
How Florida Shapes US Foreign Policy
With 31 electoral votes, Florida remains a key swing state in presidential elections. Even a small gap and a minor shift among key voter groups can determine national outcomes. In this state, a significant electoral bloc is formed by voters of Cuban origin, as well as those from Venezuela. At the centre of this dynamic is Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State and a Florida native, whose political biography is closely tied with confronting leftist governments in Latin America. Rubio’s family fled communist Cuba, and he has consistently advocated for a confrontational policy towards leftist governments. Reports suggest that during negotiations, Maduro offered concessions on oil and economic matters that could have been commercially beneficial. However, advisors linked to Florida’s political interests insisted on a tougher line.
Florida’s political ecosystem comprises influential donor networks that have historically supported hardline foreign policy stances. Well-organised pro-Israel groups, capable of influencing the situation at both state and national levels, are also part of this. In recent months, visits by senior Israeli figures to Florida have strengthened ideological bonds. Within this framework, regimes described as hostile to Israel are perceived as challenges, requiring decisive responses. The combination of electoral incentives, ideological commitments, and elite networks helps explain why US policy towards Venezuela has been shaped both by domestic political factors and external strategic interests.
Peace Through Strength
Israeli analysts, who examine the US situation profoundly, constantly emphasise that “peace through strength” is a slogan for Trump’s domestic political activity as well. Naturally, this thesis extends to foreign policy. And this is exactly why the Western world has wound up in a state of global instability, with it being the result of years of wavering and moral uncertainty in leadership.
After a convincing victory in the 2024 elections, Donald Trump took a series of steps aimed at consolidating his personal power. Naturally, this provoked increased resistance from his opponents.
Opposition to Trump’s Policy Is Growing Within the US
Most major American media are loyal to the Democratic Party. Therefore, in the press and on TV, there is a continuously active campaign to demonise the US president. He is accused primarily of violating the Constitution and seeking to create an imperial presidency. He is practically convicted of all mortal sins. A CNN article entitled “Inside Trump’s ‘crazy world’” is a shining example of such accusations. The article states, “He sits behind the Oval Office desk, flinging out threats, subterfuge, and insults like a conductor leading an orchestra — but conjuring not harmony but worldwide chaos.”
Poorer strata of American society are dissatisfied with Trump’s policy since he insisted on passing a budget for the current year that cancelled subsidies for this category of citizens regarding health insurance. As a result, the cost for many of them increased from $1,000 to $4,000 per month.
The American president’s hard line and his sometimes not very restrained statements provide many reasons for attacks against him. In recent partial municipal elections, the Democratic Party scored decisive and significant wins in two states. In New York, a Democratic socialist was elected mayor. And it all took place despite preliminary data showing US GDP growth by more than 1.5% in 2025. Gasoline prices, which are within sight of every American, have also fallen slightly.
It is quite symptomatic that even within the MAGA— “Make America Great Again”—movement, its most active adherents are increasingly voicing serious criticism of Trrump’s actions in various areas. Republican parliamentarians are not always on his side either. Just the other day, five Republican senators supported a Democratic bill to limit the president’s powers regarding military action against Venezuela.
Economic Interests and Geopolitical Stakes
Trump openly seeks the removal of Federal Reserve Chairman Powell. However, this move is disapproved of by a number of major American banks. They believe the head of the Central Bank should be absolutely independent. Notably, the heads of 11 central banks from various states, including Brazil, recently declared their solidarity with their American colleague in a special letter.
It is a common knowledge that Trump came to power relying on the support of oil magnates. However, his call for these corporations to take on restoring oil production in Venezuela was met without much enthusiasm. Many companies, especially those extracting shale oil, do not really like the idea of lowering the price of a barrel of oil to $50.
Trump consistently relies on the support of the military-industrial complex. He announced a whole series of major projects, including the creation of a “golden dome” over America and whatnot. Moreover, he promises to increase military spending from $900 billion this year to $1.5 trillion in 2027. However, his appeal to corporations producing military equipment, urging them to actively reinvest their profits into expanding production, is viewed by some oligarchs as an encroachment on their legitimate rights.
This is likely why the conclusion of some Russian political scientists is not far from logic. They argue that many foreign policy steps of the Trump administration are determined by domestic political and economic interests. A clear testament to this is Trump’s firm focus on capturing Greenland, the largest island on our planet with an area of about 2 million square kilometers. Most of it is covered with ice, which is rapidly melting due to the warming of the world’s polar regions. This has far-reaching consequences for Earth’s climate stability. According to press reports, the Americans are offering each of Greenland’s 55,000 inhabitants $100,000, or $700 billion for the entire island to Denmark.
As the Arctic warms, potential new trade routes are opening up, along with access to mineral wealth. This includes minerals critical for new technologies.
All those factors explain Washington’s growing interest in rich resources and regions, be they those of Latin America, Africa, or the Arctic. It is attempting to redraw the map of economic influence to secure America’s dominant position in the next stage of industrial transformation. In this regard, control over oil, minerals, semiconductors, and key sea lanes—from the Strait of Malacca to the Panama Canal and the Arctic—becomes part of a unified strategy. This strategy aims to control the arteries of the world economy. States that control the flows of vital materials can influence the growth of others: their industry, prices, and social and political stability.
The fact of the growing split in American society has become a verity. And hardly anyone can claim that the internal political struggle is weakening.
In this regard, some Russian scientists seem close to reality in asserting that Trump really wants to capture Greenland by July 4, 2026, i.e., the date when the Americans will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. The celebrations will objectively coincide with the American president’s 80th birthday on June 14. It is not by chance that they are hastily erecting a triumphal arch in Washington and finishing up the construction of the White House ballroom.
Trump views these events as an important milestone designed to ensure the Republican Party’s victory in the 2026 parliamentary elections, when all members of the House of Representatives and one-third of senators will run re-election. If the Democratic Party manages to secure its majority in at least one of the two chambers of Congress, the American leader will face great difficulties in implementing his policies, because it is exactly the Congress that approves budget expenditures.
Veniamin Popov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, PhD in History
Follow new articles on our Telegram channel
