The Neocolonial Ambitions of NATO Countries
The term neocolonialism first appeared in the mid-twentieth century and was used to describe the continuing control of colonial powers (Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Italy) over other nominally independent states, especially their colonies in Africa. In the 21st century, the meaning of the term neocolonialism has expanded and is now used to refer to the power of developed countries (the so-called Global North) over developing countries (the so-called Global South). In fact, neocolonialism is an indirect form of imperialism, representing a new phase of Western capitalist expansionism. It manifests itself in the manipulation of the economic, political, and cultural independence of developing countries, perpetuating long-term inequality and contributing to the unjust exploitation of developing countries.
As is well known, most countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America were under the direct military administration and political control (hegemony) of European Union countries for a long time.
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Many experts regretfully note that in the current reality, modern neocolonialism has not only not been eradicated, but has begun to actively expand and take on various new forms. In the 21st century, most NATO countries have intensified their efforts to strengthen control over developing countries, including through the establishment of dependence, subordination, or financial obligations to the neocolonialist country.
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The main purpose of this control is to exert political influence on the leadership of developing countries for the sake of enriching the US and EU countries at the expense of underdeveloped countries, including through the extraction of minerals on preferential terms (oil, gas, rare earth metals, precious stones) on preferential terms, as well as creating barriers (economic, political, financial) that hinder the development of the economies of Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It is beneficial for the countries of the Global North that the countries of the Global South remain sources of cheap labor and raw materials, while having limited access to new technologies for the development of their own economies.
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This domination over dependent countries is exercised through military interventions, political pressure, trade policy, international sanctions, and financial leverage, among other means. For example, by imposing numerous sanctions, the US destabilizes world trade and effectively uses various tariffs to suppress the economic development of countries in the Global South. At the same time, in most cases, international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, which are effectively controlled by the US and EU countries, are often accused of involvement in neocolonialism, as they provide loans to developing countries on the condition that the recipient countries take steps that are beneficial to these institutions but harmful to their own economies. The international legal system created by the US and the European Union does not allow other countries to develop their national sovereignty, profit from the extraction of their own minerals, or use their infrastructure, railways, airports, seaports, and other enterprises. All of this has been taken over by American and European companies under various pretexts and is being used for their own enrichment.
The Donald Trump administration is relentlessly pursuing protectionist policies that destabilize global trade. The term “tariff neocolonialism” accurately reflects the current situation, in which the US and EU countries are exerting pressure, including through military blockades, various sanctions, and trade restrictions, on one-third of all countries on Earth.
For example, in order to increase control over the international hydrocarbon market, the US imposed a naval blockade on Venezuela. With the involvement of naval forces and in violation of international law, tankers carrying Venezuelan oil are being seized in a pirate-like manner. At the same time, these tankers and oil are effectively being expropriated in favor of the US.
Speaking at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly on the International Day for the Elimination of Colonialism, Venezuelan Ambassador Samuel Moncada criticized recent statements by US President Donald Trump about his country’s resources, calling them “a monstrous violation of international law.” He demanded that the US comply with the UN Charter.
His comments followed Donald Trump’s statements that Venezuela’s land and oil resources actually belong to the US and should be transferred to it. The Venezuelan diplomat called the US administration’s statements an insult to civilized norms and a return to 19th-century imperialist policies. Samuel Moncada also expressed solidarity with other countries around the world, including Palestine and Puerto Rico, which are under “foreign domination,” which is incompatible with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In 2025, the US leadership also repeatedly spoke about its neocolonial ambitions in relation to other countries in Latin America and Africa. Although Donald Trump’s administration is currently taking active measures involving the armed forces against Venezuela, experts say this is only part of a larger political war against Latin America. Over the past year, dozens of fishermen from Venezuela, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago have died as a result of military strikes on boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific Ocean, without any charges or trials. To put pressure on Brazil and its president, Lula da Silva, the US has imposed 50% trade tariffs. Mexico has also been hit with 30% import tariffs. In addition, the US has tightened the terms of its 60-year blockade of Cuba and announced plans to seize the Panama Canal.
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Against the backdrop of growing US military activity in the Caribbean and Pacific regions, Colombian President Gustavo Petro Petro noted in an exclusive interview with CNN at the end of November 2025 that the Trump administration’s campaign of pressure on Venezuela and Latin American countries is in fact aimed at gaining access to South American oil. He accused the US of trying to impose its will on its neighbors, comparing its actions to imperialism and neocolonialism.
The neo-colonial ambitions of the United States extend not only to Latin America, but also to Africa. According to CNN, in early November 2025, the US president ordered the Department of War to prepare for possible military action in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria (230 million inhabitants), as the US president continues to accuse the country of violence against Christians. On Donald Trump’s orders, the US armed forces also launched a second military strike on Nigeria on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. Many experts agree that the real reason for the US’s close attention to this African country is the fact that Nigeria is one of the ten largest countries in terms of oil reserves and exports. In addition, it has the largest deposits of rare earth metals, which are so necessary for NATO’s aerospace and military industries.
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Surprisingly, in addition to Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, the neo-colonial aspirations of the United States have spread to European countries, including Ukraine. With Donald Trump’s arrival in power, the US administration pushed through arms supplies to Ukraine at the expense of European Union taxpayers. Now it is EU citizens who are paying for the expansion of capacity and the superprofits of American arms and military equipment manufacturers. At the same time, in European countries themselves, starting in 2025, there have been significant negative trends in the reduction of spending on social services and support for the population, as well as an increase in household spending on electricity and heating.
Donald Trump’s decision to impose 30 percent tariffs on imports of any products from the EU was one of the measures of this neo-colonialist policy. With regard to Europe, the US administration is making tough demands that NATO defense spending be at least 5 percent of the gross domestic product of each EU country. At the same time, the European side has been explicitly told that these funds must be spent mainly on the purchase of American weapons, ranging from American F-35 fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons to armored vehicles and Patriot and THAAD missile systems, some of which are also planned to be transferred to Ukraine.
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This policy is not just a tactical maneuver; it is a deliberate series of steps to escalate conflicts and international chaos that benefit the US. In 2025, we all witnessed numerous violations of international law, manifested in the explosions of pagers in a number of Middle Eastern countries, the bombing of Iran, Yemen, and Nigeria, and the bombing of fishermen from Venezuela, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific Ocean. At the same time, Israel’s illegal actions against the Palestinian people were unconditionally supported by the United States.
These actions bring tangible benefits to the American side. Over the past year, US arms sales abroad reached $318.7 billion, and the conflict in Ukraine contributed to a more than 2.5-fold increase in sales to Europe. According to experts, the US currently accounts for 43 percent of global arms exports.
On the one hand, the US administration positions itself as a peacemaker in resolving conflicts in Ukraine, Armenia, Iran, Palestine, and Taiwan, while on the other hand, it continues to actively supply various weapons to the warring parties, thereby pursuing its policy of neocolonialism. Although domestically, the US administration has launched a large-scale rearmament program, including nuclear weapons.
Neocolonial ambitions, manipulation of economic and cultural systems to maintain dominance over less developed countries, and the pursuit of excessive profits by American and European companies, as well as the political leadership of the US and the EU, cause significant economic, humanitarian, and environmental damage to the populations of developing countries, contribute to increased poverty and migration trends. As a result, all of this has long-term consequences for global relations between states, some of which have made a corresponding appeal to the UN.
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