Latin America in 'uncharted waters' warns former Chilean ex-minister

The US military intervention in Venezuela leaves Latin America in "uncharted waters", a former Chilean government minister has told CGTN, warning "this might be the first of a number of other military operations" by Washington in the region. 

Jorge Heine, who was also Chile's ambassador to China, spoke to CGTN after the US had launched an attack on various parts of Venezuela, forcibly seizing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores and taking them to face court proceedings in New York.  

"The press conference by President Trump left more questions than answers," Heine told CGTN. "It's one thing to do the sort of very highly precise military operation that was undertaken by the United States, extracting President Maduro and his wife. It's another what happens the morning after – regime change doesn't happen just by removing the head of state."

Venezuela has appointed an interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, who is showing her support for Maduro – while the country's Defense Minister expressed strong support for Maduro during a Sunday afternoon news conference. 

But on Saturday Trump said several times that the US would now "run" Venezuela.

"It's quite unclear what happens now and how the United States will 'run' that government, as President Trump said," Heine continued. "He indicated that the government will be run by the people behind him, meaning Secretary of State Rubio and Secretary of Defense [Pete] Hegseth. How that will work is very unclear."

Away from the immediate power struggles and divisions of labor, history suggests that regime change is rarely as simple as removing a leader. Venezuela may join a list of nations who have faced long-term struggles after a militarily-enforced power change.

"It is one thing to occupy and invade a country, effect regime change – it's quite another to actually run it," warned Heine. "That is a very difficult operation. It certainly failed in Afghanistan. It failed in Iraq. It failed in Libya. 

"So those are the things that we might see in Venezuela. It's very tricky to face the challenges of nation-building and building up democratic institutions after a military intervention."

Destabilization

Heine also raised the possibility that several countries in the wider geographical region could be destabilized by a landmark military intervention. 

"This is the first time that the United States has undertaken a military attack on the South American mainland – it had happened before in Mexico and Central America and the Caribbean, but not on the south American mainland – in 200 years," said Heine. "So the threshold has been crossed and therefore we are here in uncharted waters."

Heine mentioned a number of countries who could be worried that the US actions in Venezuela might imply Washington would be prepared to carry out military intervention elsewhere.

"President Trump has expressed concern about what is happening in Mexico," said Heine. "He has also intimated that President Petro of Colombia should watch out. Secretary Rubio also mentioned Cuba. So this might be the first of a number of other military operations of the United States in Latin America."

The Monroe doctrine 

During his media conference, Trump mentioned the Monroe doctrine. Articulated in 1823 by the then US President James Monroe, it opposed any 'foreign' interest in the western hemisphere, specifically North and South America.

The Monroe doctrine also held that any intervention in the political affairs of the Americas by foreign powers is a potentially hostile act against the US – and a November 2025 update to the US National Security Strategy says that "The United States will reassert and enforce the Monroe doctrine to restore American preeminence."

"President Trump, of course, has invoked the Monroe Doctrine and has added to it what he calls the Trump corollary, trying to assert US dominance in the Americas," said Heine. "So we're in for a very difficult period."