Trump's potential next targets for US takeover explained after threatening 'failing nations'
Following Donald Trump's successful strikes in Venezuela over the weekend, eyes have turned to who his next targets would be as the US leader hints at further action in Latin America and even out in space.
Operation Absolute Resolve not only saw the US president striking Venezuela's capital of Caracas, but also succeed in capturing its leader, Nicolás Maduro, who is being held on narco-terrorism charges in New York along with his wife.
Describing the move as 'one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military' in history, Trump claimed that Venezuela was now under the US' control despite politician Delcy Rodríguez being named the country's interim leader.
While many worry about the possibility of a Third World War following Trump's actions, the question others have been asking is who could the 79-year-old target next?
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Well, the president hasn't been shy in offering up hints - and there could be nine areas on his list.
Canada
While Trump has spoken about the US needing access to Venezuela's oil reserves, his desire to make Canada the 51st state of the US has nothing to do with this.
He has publicly claimed that military force is not an option, instead imposing high tariffs and using 'economic force' in an attempt to force Canada into annexation.
The president has spoken about Canada's array of natural resources, even praising Canadian water and suggesting it be piped to US regions known to have droughts.
Cuba
Speaking about the Caribbean nation, he claimed at the weekend: “Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall. I don’t know if they’re going to hold out.”
He went on: “Cuba only survives because of Venezuela,” claiming that Cuba is a 'failing nation'.
Trump claims that this is due to the collapse of its economic support from Venezuela, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he'd be 'concerned' if he were a government official in Havana.
Greenland
Trump's desire to acquire Greenland is no secret, despite it being a Danish territory and both the US and Denmark being NATO allies.
He said that the US needed Greenland 'from the standpoint of national security', though it looks like a number of world leaders oppose this view.
"It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the US needing to take over Greenland," the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, said.
She added: "I would therefore strongly urge the US stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people, who have very clearly said that they are not for sale."
Colombia
Trump placed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro last October, claiming that he, his family and a member of his administration were involved in the global drug trade.
The president claimed that Petro was a 'sick man' who 'likes making cocaine' through his 'cocaine mills and cocaine factories' and sells it to the US.
He was even asked about a future operation against Colombia, answering: “Sounds good to me.”
Gaza
You'll wonder why an area described as a 'demolition site' by Trump would be so appealing, but he also noted that it has 'unbelievable potential'... for real estate development.
He firmly believes that luxury resorts and artificial islands can be built in the area, à la Dubai, with suggestions that it could become the 'Riviera of the Middle East'.
While it was revealed that his plan for the Palestinian territory involved moving all its residents to Egypt, Jordan and other countries nearby, this has unsurprisingly drawn backlash from the international community.
Mexico
Trump has been irked by Mexico since his first term in office, claiming recently that drug cartels are 'running Mexico, bringing drugs across the border and ruining Americans' lives'.
His administration is now working to target drug labs and overlords, having already carried out strikes on drug vessels at sea.
Panama
Trump wants the US to regain control of the Panama Canal for numerous reasons, having falsely insisted that the Panama Canal is being operated by China.
In reality, it is administered by a Panamanian government agency, but with a Hong Kong-based company managing two ports at its entrances, some US officials view Panama as a national security risk.
The Moon
This desire may remind us of Gru from Despicable Me, but Trump wants the US to stamp its authority on the Moon.
He wants to put another flag on the Moon in what would be a powerful political message, but his administration has reportedly caused 'friction and havoc and loss of NASA expertise without any kind of positive or redirected focus' due to budget cuts.
Mars
Trump will need to team up with Elon Musk for this one to put the US' space program back into play.
It would see NASA's funding largely lean towards Musk's company SpaceX, in order to achieve the pair's goal of setting foot on Mars within the next 10 years or so.
Topics: Donald Trump, World News, Greenland, Politics
Joshua Nair