President Donald Trump’s recent serious consideration of incorporating Venezuela as the 51st state is no casual remark. Combined with his persistent push for control over Greenland, it signals a bold evolution of American ambition: a trans-hemispheric destiny. This vision extends 19th-century Manifest Destiny beyond North America’s shores, aiming to secure economic dominance, strategic resources, and prosperity across the hemisphere for the next century.
James K. Polk provides the historical parallel. Elected in 1844, Polk pursued a disciplined agenda that delivered continental expansion. Through the 1846 Oregon Treaty, he secured the Pacific Northwest. The annexation of Texas and victory in the Mexican-American War led to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, adding over 500,000 square miles—including California and the Southwest—for $15 million. In one term, Polk increased U.S. territory by more than a third, turning the ideal of a nation “from sea to shining sea” into reality. His assertive leadership blended diplomacy, military action, and opportunism to unlock land, resources, and ports.
Trump echoes this assertiveness on a hemispheric scale. His interest in Greenland focuses on Arctic security and resources. The island holds vast reserves of rare earth minerals, oil, and natural gas critical for defense, technology, and emerging shipping routes. With great-power competition intensifying, U.S. influence there counters Russian and Chinese advances while promising economic development for Greenland’s small population.
Venezuela represents the more dramatic proposition. Following the removal of Nicolás Maduro, Trump highlighted the country’s estimated $40 trillion in oil wealth—driven by the world’s largest proven reserves of approximately 300 billion barrels. Production, currently around 900,000 barrels per day, has collapsed from prior peaks due to mismanagement. Under American-aligned investment, technology, and governance, output could surge toward 3 million barrels daily, generating trillions in revenue.
The economic windfall for Venezuelans would be transformative. Decades of socialism produced hyperinflation, mass emigration, and poverty despite immense natural wealth. Competent development could rebuild infrastructure, create millions of jobs, restore institutions, and raise living standards dramatically.
Billions in revenue could fund schools, hospitals, and housing, offering citizens opportunity at home rather than exile. Greenlanders, long subsidized by Denmark, could similarly gain from resource extraction, workforce training, and self-sufficiency under stable partnership. Both cases demonstrate how integration with American capital and markets historically spurred growth in places like Texas and California.
This vision addresses a deeper truth about migration. Tens of millions flee Latin America and beyond for America’s opportunities, rule of law, and prosperity. Rather than solely managing endless inflows, the United States can export its model—bringing stability, investment, and growth to their shores. By fostering resource-driven development and good governance in Venezuela and potential partners, America reduces migration pressures at the source while creating mutual prosperity. Citizens gain better lives without uprooting families, while the U.S. gains secure energy supplies and strategic depth.
A trans-hemispheric destiny envisions deeper economic integration, security partnerships, and selective incorporation across the Americas and Arctic. It modernizes the Monroe Doctrine for the 21st century: limiting adversarial influence while building a resilient sphere of shared prosperity. Energy independence, critical mineral supply chains, and Pacific-Atlantic connectivity would strengthen U.S. primacy amid global competition.
Challenges remain significant. Critics label such moves imperialist, raising issues of sovereignty, governance burdens, and historical precedents. Polk’s expansions fueled sectional conflict over slavery. Trump’s approach requires navigating consent, diplomacy, and legal realities—full statehood demands congressional approval and local support. Success depends on pragmatic deals emphasizing mutual benefit over coercion.
Like Polk, Trump rejects decline in favor of expansionist confidence. Polk’s legacy forged a continental power. Trump’s trans-hemispheric framework, if executed through smart diplomacy and results-oriented leadership, could secure American economic and strategic advantages for generations. By delivering opportunity abroad, America eases pressures at home while reaffirming its capacity to spread prosperity. In an era of renewed rivalry, this assertive destiny may prove essential for enduring strength and hemispheric stability.
About The Author
Gary Berntsen is a retired Senior Operations Officer and Chief of Station of the Central Intelligence Agency. He is the Author of the NYT Bestseller Jawbreaker, The Attack on Bin Laden and Al Qaeda.
