US releases document in which it advocates ‘restoring military supremacy’ in the West

The US Department of War formalized on Friday (23), in its 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS), the objective of restore US military dominance in the Western Hemisphere. The document, signed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, states that the country wants to restore “the American military supremacy in the Western Hemisphere to protect our homeland and our access to strategic lands throughout the region.”

The document cites the “Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine”, an update of the 19th century policy that aims to ensure that adversaries do not exert influence or position threatening capabilities in the region. As an example, the department cites military action against criminal organizations in America, classifying drug traffickers as “narcoterrorists“.

The text states that the US “will seek to develop the capabilities of regional partners to degrade these organizations”, but emphasizes that the country will act unilaterally and decisively if local governments do not do so.

Report cites recent operations, such as the capture of Nicolás Maduro (the so-called “Absolute Resolve”), indicating that military force will be used with “speed, power and precision” against groups that threaten public health or US security through drug trafficking.

Washington also toughened diplomatic treatment. The US withdrew Colombia’s certification in the fight against drugs, for example, a move that downgrades the former ally’s status and reflects the document’s warning that partners who “fail to do their part” will suffer consequences.

Vital lands

Another pillar of Trump’s plan is the guarantee of exclusive US military and commercial access to lands considered vital. The Pentagon names three areas of critical interest:

• Panama Canal: essential for commercial and military flow between oceans;
• Gulf of Mexico: strategic region for energy and maritime security;
• Greenland: key point in the Arctic for surveillance and defense of North American territory;

According to the document, the government no longer intends to cede influence over these areas and is prepared to present “credible military options” to ensure this dominance.

Capture of Maduro

Maduro’s capture was coordinated from a situation room in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, accompanied by Donald Trump, and carried out after months of training in replicas of the Venezuelan dictator’s hideout.

O Venezuelan was captured on January 3in Caracas, where elite forces carried out an incursion after neutralizing local defenses with a technological blackout and the support of more than 150 aircraft, including F-35 fighters and bombers. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured around 3 a.m. as they tried to take refuge in a room. Both were removed in less than 20 minutes, using helicopters and initially taking them to the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima.

Afterwards, Maduro was transferred to the USA, where will face justice. According to US Attorney General Pam Bondi, the indictment in the Southern District of New York includes crimes of narco-terrorism conspiracy, importation of cocaine and possession of machine guns.

Maduro arriving in NY, where he appeared in court in NY after capture by American troops

Brazil reacts

President Lula (PT) repudiated military action American government in Venezuela, classifying the bombings and capture of Maduro as a “flagrant violation of international law“. In a post on social media, the PT member stated that the attack represents a very serious affront to Venezuelan sovereignty and establishes an “extremely dangerous precedent” where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism.

Lula called a ministerial meeting emergency response to address the issue and called for the United Nations (UN) to respond vehemently to the episode. Although the Brazilian government has maintained a distance from Maduro by not recognizing the last electoral election, Brazilian diplomacy has reinforced that it condemns the use of force.