Trump's 'Ego-Politics': Why the US Prioritizes Venezuela in the Region

The foreign policy of the Donald Trump administration towards Latin America has marked a significant departure from traditional diplomatic methods, notably by elevating Venezuela's importance in the region's geopolitical landscape while downplaying Cuba.

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The U.S. strategy has marked a drastic rupture with traditional methods, placing Venezuela at the center of the geopolitical chessboard.

According to international relations expert Dalai Urbina, this strategic shift is not rooted in ideological principles but rather in pragmatic calculations. Urbina, associate director of the School of International Studies at Venezuela's Central University (UCV), explains that Venezuela's strategic resources and its potential to generate immediate international media and geopolitical impact make it a priority for the White House. This contrasts with the ongoing historical and ideological confrontation with Cuba.

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Personal decisions and the search for direct results that override traditional institutional bureaucracy.

Urbina describes Trump's governing style as contemporary "ego-politics," where personal decisions and the pursuit of direct results supersede bureaucratic filters and traditional institutional channels. This approach favors direct communication with leaders, irrespective of their ideological alignment. Urbina posits that the Trump doctrine views Latin America as a geo-strategic region essential for safeguarding private capital, generating tangible economic benefits for the U.S. population, and serving as a counterweight to other global power centers.

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The Trump corollary and the Monroe Doctrine understand Latin America as a geo-strategic region where the objective is to guarantee private capital, generate concrete economic benefits for the U.S. population, and establish a counterweight against other global power centers.

Within this framework, the predominant negotiation tactic employed is known as the "madman theory" or "game of chicken." Urbina explains this strategy involves applying pressure to the maximum extent possible before making decisions based on the specific scenario. While both Cuba and Venezuela have been subjected to this pressure, the intensity and objectives differ significantly, with Venezuela now at the center of Washington's strategic calculations in the region.

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Pressuring to the maximum point and making decisions based on what is sought in each scenario.