Another historical moment unfolds: every day brings new events that heighten global anxiety, uncertainty, and mental health challenges. The year 2026 opens with intense global debate over the United Nations (UN) Charter as a direct result of the US forces’ incursion and abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The main concern is how these actions challenge existing international norms and contribute to growing psychological strain worldwide.
I have been keeping a close eye on the developments in South and Latin America for over six months. Things were getting pretty ugly. The build-up to the geopolitical game plan was obvious, but it was unclear whether Brazil would be first on Trump's strategy for the new global order.
If the chaos in the Middle East is not enough, threats on Greenland, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, the Panama Canal, and Gaza, and let’s not forget the threats on Ukraine, then the Trump second administration is doing a great job.
It is not that South American countries are without problems; they have issues, and these problems are complex. Wealth and inequality represent significant challenges across the continent. South America is a powerhouse of natural resources, such as agriculture, minerals, and water.
As the military incursion into Venezuela made evident, the White House is reasserting US dominance through military pressure, economic coercion, and selective alliance-building. The kidnapping of the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, has divided Latin America. World leaders are unsure whether to condemn, praise, or ignore. So, many of them are just throwing into the air calls for respect for international law, emphasising the United Nations’ Charter, and soft diplomacy on sovereignty. China and Russia issued soft condemnations, while countries in South America are closing borders and raising force alerts.
Trump-friendly leaders and supporters are celebrating the capture and bombardment of installations in Venezuela. Meanwhile, Trump-friendly fans and elected politicians across the region are urging Trump to ‘visit’ their countries to help remove their elected presidents, and that includes Brazilian politicians.
Trump’s relations with Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, are based on camaraderie, with Trump lavishing money and praise on Argentina while also promising to make Argentina great again. Financial interests play on both sides of the court.
The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, is also in good graces with Trump. Bukele agreed to accept deportees from the United States and put them in his massive anti-terrorist prison, where tens of thousands of people have been held without due process. Both Argentina and El Salvador are seizing every opportunity to engage in business dealings with Trump and his associates.
Then, there has been the fiasco with the Brazilian judiciary, tariffs, and political interference in favour of former president Jair Bolsonaro. These had the fireballs rolling.
Trump’s relationship with Brazil has seen recent improvements; however, it remains uncertain when this relationship might deteriorate. Although one cannot predict the future, it is prudent not to dismiss the possibility that the Trump administration could seek to influence the Brazilian presidential election in 2026.
Trump’s staunch commitment to prevent threats posed by drug traffickers or hostile regimes that could endanger US national security has been conceptualised under the claim that the US will use forces to eradicate the alleged threats. And so, Trump 2 is shaping the new world order.
Leaders are highly cautious about disagreeing or confronting the unfolding of the new geopolitical situation. Consequently, Gaza’s plans aligned with Trump’s (Boulevard) objectives, have become a contentious issue for regional leaders.
Recent geopolitical events have provided Moscow and Beijing with a rhetorical framework to justify their own ambitions. How far can one go? What country could be next? The options are clear. So, the question arises: what does being an ally truly mean in the actual context?
Sonia Ambrosio
The writer is a journalist, academic and researcher in media studies
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