US declares Western Hemisphere exclusive zone of interest

The US State Department has officially declared the Western Hemisphere an exclusive zone of interest for the United States.

The State Department made the statement on the social media platform X, saying:

“This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened.”

This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened. pic.twitter.com/SXvI868d4Z

— Department of State (@StateDept) January 5, 2026

Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States is not at war with Venezuela but with drug cartels, emphasising that the primary goal of the American operation in the country was to curb illegal drug trafficking. 

He added that Washington does not need Venezuelan oil but intends to control it in order to limit the influence of its “adversaries,” namely, Russia, China, and Iran, in the sector.

By Jeyhun Aghazada