U.S. President Donald Trump said he is considering extending anti-drug military operations to Mexico and Colombia, as tensions with Venezuela continue to escalate. The statement came during an interview with Politico on Monday, in which Trump also renewed criticism of European leaders, describing them as “weak” and “politically correct.”
The remarks followed the release of his administration’s new National Security Strategy, which redefines U.S. foreign policy with a heavy focus on Latin America. The plan calls for strengthening America’s dominance in the Western Hemisphere and warns Europe to “change course or face erasure.”
“I would,” Trump said when asked if he might use force against drug trafficking targets in Mexico and Colombia. The president also declined to rule in or out the possibility of deploying U.S. ground forces in Venezuela, saying, “I don’t want to discuss military strategy.”
Rising tensions and regional military posture
Trump’s comments come amid a months-long campaign of U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific against boats allegedly used by drug smugglers. At least 87 people have been killed in these operations, which Washington defends as part of its broader effort to dismantle transnational cartels. Critics, however, argue that the actions amount to extrajudicial killings, as most targets were never captured or prosecuted.
Later on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were expected to brief congressional leaders on the administration’s ongoing operations and regional strategy. The White House insists that the missions are necessary to counter what it calls “narcoterrorist networks” linked to Venezuela’s Maduro government.
A shifting world order
Trump’s remarks reflect a broader effort to reposition U.S. power away from global conflicts and toward hemispheric control. His new doctrine emphasizes aggressive containment of Latin American drug routes while limiting U.S. commitments in Europe and the Middle East.
In the interview, the president dismissed Europe’s leadership as ineffective in dealing with crises such as the war in Ukraine and trade tensions with the U.S. “They’re weak,” he said. “They want to be so politically correct. They don’t know what to do.”
European Union spokesperson Paula Pinho defended the bloc’s leadership, saying EU officials “remain united” and “are leading with all the challenges they face, from trade to war in our neighborhood.”
Ukraine, Hungary, and shifting alliances
Trump also commented on Ukraine, suggesting that it was “time to hold elections” as the war approaches its fourth year. Kyiv is expected to present a revised peace proposal to Washington this week, following emergency talks with European leaders.
The U.S. president confirmed that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally, requested financial support during his recent visit to the White House but said he did not promise any aid. “No, I didn’t promise him, but he certainly asked for it,” Trump told Politico.
The ongoing combination of military assertiveness in Latin America and skepticism toward traditional allies signals a new phase in U.S. foreign policy — one where Trump seeks to redefine American power through regional dominance and hardline deterrence.