When journalists inquired about Venezuela, Donald Trump shifted the focus: “We have a problem with Mexico. We have a problem with Colombia.” This statement indicates a significant rhetorical expansion, suggesting that the tactics used towards Caracas could be applied throughout the region.
#AnalysisTable 15 NOV 2025
The calculated ambiguity and redirection towards other countries signal a new direction in Trump’s hemispheric policy.
In a brief exchange with reporters (as he boarded Air Force One to fly to Florida from Washington), President Donald Trump acknowledged that, while progress has been made in curbing drug trafficking from Venezuela, the United States has “a problem with Mexico” and “a problem with Colombia.” This seemingly spontaneous remark could be the initial piece of a deliberate strategy to reorient his hemispheric policy.
🇻🇪 From Venezuela to the continent: A shift in focus
The reporter specifically asked about Venezuela, but Trump’s response immediately pointed to two other regional players. This is not a casual turn but reflects a reconceptualization of the issue within the U.S. administration.
· A national security issue: For Trump’s second term, drug trafficking has transitioned from a foreign policy concern to an internal national security matter directly affecting American citizens. This perspective justifies a broader and more robust range of actions.
· Expanding the theater of operations: Recent military actions are not confined to Venezuelan waters. The United States has conducted a series of lethal strikes against civilian vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, with reports of over 70 fatalities in various outlets. The narrative equating cartels with “narco-terrorists” provides the legal framework for these operations.
· Pressure on Colombia: Analysts point out that U.S. pressure has also expanded to Colombia, where Gustavo Petro’s government is viewed with suspicion due to its “Total Peace” strategy with armed groups. Washington is moving towards a “dual control” strategy, combining direct actions in Venezuela with geopolitical warnings to Colombia.
🗣️ The ambiguity strategy: “Well, we’ll see what happens”
When asked about his next steps in Venezuela and the potential disapproval from his supporters regarding another military campaign abroad, Trump chose a deliberately vague response: “Well, we’ll see what happens.” This phrase, far from being informal, serves as a diplomatic and strategic tool with specific objectives.
· Maintaining uncertainty: Ambiguity works as a psychological pressure tool against his adversaries. By not revealing his cards, Trump keeps Nicolás Maduro’s government on edge and forces all regional actors to prepare for multiple scenarios.
· Managing internal audience: This rhetoric allows him to avoid a contentious domestic debate. Openly recognizing the possibility of extensive intervention could ignite criticism from his more skeptical base regarding “endless wars.” According to a YouGov poll, only 18% of Americans support using force to overthrow Maduro.
· Preserving flexibility: By not committing to a specific course of action, the president reserves the option to act—or not—without being bound to previous public statements. This caution is also reflected in reports indicating that Trump has expressed reservations about interventions that could risk American troops or end in failure.
🧭 A regional strategy in development
The inclusion of Mexico and Colombia in the equation is not an isolated comment. It indicates that the Trump administration is crafting a coordinated strategy for the entire Caribbean basin and northern South America.
· Doctrine in action: Analysts indicate that the current military escalation marks a turning point and could be seen as the return of a hemispheric security logic from the United States, a concept reminiscent of the Monroe Doctrine.
· Increasing militarization: This strategy manifests in an unprecedented military deployment in the region, including the dispatch of the USS Gerald R. Ford —the largest aircraft carrier in the world— to the Caribbean, F-35 fighters, and thousands of soldiers.
· Reaffirming influence: Beyond combating drugs, these movements aim to contain the influence of global actors such as China and Russia in the hemisphere, reaffirming the region as a priority area of influence for Washington.
❓The pending question
Despite all the rhetoric, military deployments, and briefings at the Pentagon —where Trump was recently presented with options for military operations within Venezuela— a crucial question remains: Does Donald Trump really have a decision made about direct intervention in Venezuela?
The evidence suggests otherwise. Or at least, not a definitive one. The president continues to weigh the risks and benefits of an expanded military campaign. His calculated ambiguity is not only a tactic for his international adversaries but also a reflection of genuine internal deliberation. Ultimately, the phrase “we’ll see what happens” might be the most honest answer to the uncertainty that defines the future of the United States’ relationship with Venezuela and the entire region.