One local professor says Trump's actions and threats are about seizing resources in the Western Hemisphere.
People who grew up in countries without democracies have hope. They are encouraged by what President Donald Trump is doing and what he may do. However, experts caution them that the president's motives may have nothing to do with rebuilding nations.
Whether by foot, motorcycle, or car, the Venezuela-Colombia border was busy on Monday with many people crossing over. Trump hasChicago is home to thousands of Colombians and Cubans, including a restaurant owner who did not want her face shown because of the delicate political situation. "I'm pretty sure we will be better than whatever we are living right now. We need to be free," she said. Following the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the business owner, who grew up under the Castro regime, says Cubans have hope that communism may fall with the help of Trump."We've been in this system, this situation for so many years. People will have freedom, most important, food, opportunities," she said. But some foreign policy experts question the president's motives. With talk of who is next -- Cuba, Colombia, Greenland, Canada -- University of Chicago political science professor Robert Pape says Trump's foreign policy strategy is becoming very clear. Pape says it is not about helping people; it is about seizing resources in the Western Hemisphere. "He wants the oil in Venezuela. This is not nation building. This is not, 'We're going to spread democracy,'" Pape said. Pape says Trump's interest in Colombia is about oil, too. Close to 1 million barrels a day come from the country."If you're going to take resources in the Western Hemisphere, you might as well just sweep up Cuba along the way. This is a relatively small part of the picture," Pape said. Since World War II, the United States has worked hard to keep the peace through building international alliances. Pape says what the president is doing is the definition of imperialism. "We're not the protector of democracy any longer. What's happening is, we are the predator. We are taking what we want, and others have a chance to do our bidding or face the consequences," Pape said. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world. Pape predicts Trump will face some big challenges gaining control of it. Pape says the country's mountainous and jungle terrain makes it perfect for insurgents.
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