In response to President Donald Trump’s second term, the United States’ relationships with neighboring countries have begun to shift dramatically. The repercussions could hit closer to home than expected, as the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico found out in early January.
On Jan. 11, Fox News reported that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro made the closing speech for the Global International Anti-Fascist Festival held in Caracas, Venezuela. In his remarks, he said, “As in the north they have an agenda of colonization, we have an agenda of liberation, and that agenda was written for us by [Latin American independence war hero] Simón Bolívar. The liberty of Puerto Rico is pending, and we will achieve it with Brazilian troops.”
Maduro appears to have said this in response to at the time President-elect Trump’s numerous comments about other Western allies, among them being the idea of “invading” Canada, “buying” Greenland, and taking back the Panama Canal.
While it is difficult to gauge the sincerity of Maduro’s comment, some aren’t willing to take any risks. “This is an open threat to the United States, our national security, and stability to the region,” said Puerto Rican Governor Jennifer González-Colón in an open letter to President Trump.
In recent years, Puerto Rican voters have shown interest in updating the island’s status to statehood or free association with the United States. Some have speculated this may indicate that the citizens are content with remaining under the authority of the United States, which would make Maduro’s threat of liberating Puerto Rico invalid.
However, some political commentators think Maduro’s comment is to worry about. “It was more of a provocation than anything else,” Venezuelan political consultant Indira Urbaneja told CNN. “We still have a delicate political situation requiring [Maduro’s] whole attention. I think Maduro’s priority will be to overcome internal challenges; it’s not like anyone is seriously planning to invade Puerto Rico,” Urbaneja added.
The internal challenges Urbaneja mentioned have to do with Maduro’s recent controversial reelection (which the Associated Press called “never fair nor free”) and his decision to issue an arrest warrant against his opposition. Many Venezuelan citizens claim that his reelection was rigged, causing unrest within the country. The Venezuelan president is also facing potential legal battles concerning allegations of narco trafficking and money laundering.
Some political pundits feel that the U.S. and Venezuela efforts to readjust under their new administrations is creating an uncertain future of political division and strained foreign relations. Whether or not Maduro was serious with his threat against Puerto Rico highlights the growing use of aggressive rhetoric between world leaders. Whether in terms of actual invasions or tariff threats, the world may be facing the harsh consequences of aggressive language among its leaders.
