Venezuela's End: Next on the Chopping Block

Peter Zeihan 9 min

The United States is shifting from isolationism to active intervention in the Western Hemisphere to prevent foreign powers from gaining influence. While US intervention may succeed in destabilizing targets, reconstructing stable nations remains historically difficult and often fails.

  • Donald Trump
  • Marco Rubio
  • Jair Bolsonaro

Chapters

  1. 0:00

    The Shift to Dollar Diplomacy

    The US is shifting from isolationism to active intervention in the Western Hemisphere, targeting specific nations to prevent foreign powers from gaining influence. Cuba faces collapse due to the loss of subsidized Venezuelan oil, prompting potential US military intervention led by Marco Rubio.

  2. 2:59

    Pressure on Brazil

    Brazil must align with US interests due to overwhelming American naval superiority and political pressure from Washington.

  3. 5:34

    Intervention in Honduras

    The US plans to install hand-picked leaders in Central America, effectively returning to 19th-century interventionist policies.

  4. 6:20

    The Limits of Reconstruction

    Rebuilding stable nations after regime change is historically difficult and often fails without massive troop commitments. US intervention aims to stop China from securing resource access and market footholds in Latin America.

Key points

  • 0:00

    The US will intervene across the Western Hemisphere to prevent foreign powers from gaining influence.

  • 0:00

    Marco Rubio is driving the policy shift against Venezuela and Cuba within the Trump administration.

  • 1:18

    Cuba relies on subsidized Venezuelan oil, which will now cease, causing economic catastrophe.

  • 1:18

    The US may use special forces to intervene in Cuba if economic pressure fails.

  • 2:59

    Brazil must align with the US due to overwhelming American naval superiority in the hemisphere.

  • 4:25

    The US will pressure Brazil to change its laws and political alliances to favor Washington.

  • 5:34

    The US plans to install hand-picked leaders in Honduras, returning to 19th-century interventionist policies.

  • 6:20

    Rebuilding stable nations after regime change is historically difficult and often fails without massive troop commitments.

  • 8:32

    The US aims to stop China from securing resource access and market footholds in Latin America.

  • 8:32

    Chinese investments in Latin America are vulnerable because China lacks the power to protect them.

Who and where

People · 3

  • Drawing of Donald Trump

    Donald Trump 7

    President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)

    Photo 1

  • Drawing of Marco Rubio

    Marco Rubio 2

    72nd United States Secretary of State since 2025

    Photo 2

  • Drawing of Jair Bolsonaro

    Jair Bolsonaro 1

    38th President of the Federative Republic of Brazil (2019–2023)

    Photo 3

1. Photo: Daniel Torok, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Donald Trump)

2. Photo: U.S. Department of State, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Marco Rubio)

3. Photo: Palácio do Planalto from Brasilia, Brasil, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Wikidata · redrawn in our house style (Jair Bolsonaro)

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