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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, discussed various aspects of his foreign policy in an extensive interview with TIME magazine.
Although the bulk of the interview focused on Iran, the leader made several references to Latin America, a region where his administration has promoted military operations, actions against drug trafficking, and pressure on governments deemed adversarial.
The report mentioned U.S. operations in Venezuela, Ecuador, and the Caribbean, also warning that Cuba is among the countries on the strategic radar of the White House.
According to TIME, since his return to power, Trump has authorized attacks and operations in multiple countries as part of a strategy that combines military pressure with political and security objectives.
Operations against Venezuela and capture of Maduro
One of the most striking episodes mentioned in the report is the operation that culminated in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who was subsequently transferred to the United States to face legal charges.
The magazine describes a U.S. special forces operation that culminated in the arrest of the Chavista leader in Caracas.
The operation "captured the authoritarian president of that country, Nicolás Maduro, left over one hundred dead, and brought the Venezuelan leader to trial in New York," the report states.
Additionally, the text indicates that Washington has authorized naval attacks against Venezuelan vessels suspected of drug trafficking, as part of a broader offensive against criminal networks in the Caribbean.
Cuba under the scrutiny of the Trump administration
The interview also references Cuba, which, according to the report, is among the countries that concern the current administration.
According to TIME, the Cuban government has responded with increased military activity following reports of discussions within the White House.
The U.S. administration "has also set its sights on Cuba, where President Miguel Díaz-Canel has intensified military exercises amid reports that Trump has asked his advisers to devise plans to end the six-decade communist regime on the island."
The article does not provide details—however—about the content of those plans or what kind of actions Washington might consider.
The report also mentions joint operations with Ecuador aimed at criminal organizations that Washington considers terrorist groups.
The text states that the United States participated in "joint military operations in Ecuador, aimed at 'designated terrorist organizations'."
These actions reflect the growing role of the United States in regional security cooperation in response to the rise of organized crime and drug trafficking in several Latin American countries.
Latin America within a global strategy
References to the region appear within a broader report that describes Trump's shift towards a more aggressive foreign policy focused on the use of force.
According to TIME, the president has authorized attacks in several countries since his return to power, including some that had never previously been a direct target of U.S. military operations.
In this context, Latin America emerges in Washington's strategy as a key theater in the fight against drug trafficking, transnational criminal organizations, and governments deemed hostile, while the Trump administration continues to expand the scope of its security operations across various regions of the world.
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