Trump's New Strategy for Latin America: Venezuela, Cuba, & the 'Donroe Doctrine' | Brian Winter

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Jan 8, 2026

In this discussion, experts dive into the dramatic political landscape of Latin America, centering on the fallout from Nicolás Maduro's potential ousting in Venezuela. They explore how this shift could impact the region's economy and geopolitics. The conversation also touches on the rise of right-wing movements, the influence of organized crime, and how demographic changes may reshape politics. Special attention is given to the roles of U.S. officials like Marco Rubio in shaping foreign policy towards Cuba and beyond.

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INSIGHT

Venezuela Regime Change Signals Policy Shift

The Trump administration executed a rapid, high-profile removal of Nicolás Maduro that reshaped regional dynamics.
This action signals a broader U.S. push in Latin America tied to a new National Security Strategy.

INSIGHT

Who Governs Venezuela Now?

Maduro's exit raises questions about who actually runs Venezuela and how the economy will recover.
The shift will also alter geopolitical balances across the region.

INSIGHT

Cuba Could Be Next Target

Cuba may be a forthcoming target of expanded U.S. actions following Venezuela.
The administration's pattern suggests an enlarging list of geopolitical aims.

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Episode 456 is the eleventh installment in the Hundred Year Pivot podcast series. In it, Demetri Kofinas and Grant Williams speak with the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly, Brian Winter. He's an expert on Latin America, having lived and worked in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico, and possesses a deep understanding of the region's politics, economics, and security dynamics.

The three of them begin their conversation discussing the Trump administration's almost cinematic removal of Nicolás Maduro from power in Venezuela. They speculate about who is currently in charge of the country, the implications of Maduro's exit for Venezuela's economy and the region's geopolitics, the rising tide of right-wing political movements across Latin America, and how this operation fits into the Trump administration's broader initiatives as they have been conveyed in the new National Security Strategy.

They also explore the rising tide of right-wing political movements across Latin America, the role of organized crime in driving political change, how demographic shifts and artificial intelligence might reshape the region's future, and the unique role that Trump's National security adviser and secretary of state Marco Rubio has played in shaping US foreign policy in Latin America and whether Cuba and its communist government is next on the administration's list of seemingly every-expanding targets.

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Episode Recorded on 01/07/2025