The term neo-colonialism first appeared in the mid-20th 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 neo-colonialism 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, neo-colonialism 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.

Many experts note that in the current reality, modern neo-colonialism has not only not been eradicated but, regretfully, 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 neo-colonialist countries.

The main purpose of this control is to exert political influence on the leadership of developing countries for the sake of enriching the U.S. 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), 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.

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 U.S. 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 U.S. and EU countries, are often accused of involvement in neo-colonialism, 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 populations.

The international legal system created by the U.S. 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 Trump administration is relentlessly pursuing protectionist policies that destabilize global trade. The term “tariff neo-colonialism” accurately reflects the current situation, in which the U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S.

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 Trump about his country’s resources, calling them “a monstrous violation of international law.” He demanded that the U.S. comply with the UN Charter.

His comments followed Trump’s claim that Venezuela’s land and oil resources actually belong to the U.S. and should be transferred to it. The Venezuelan diplomat called the U.S. administration’s statements an insult to civilized norms and a return to 19th-century imperialist policies. Ambassador 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 U.S. leadership also repeatedly spoke about its neo-colonial ambitions in relation to other countries in Latin America and Africa. Although the Trump 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 and 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 U.S. has imposed 50% trade tariffs. Mexico has also been hit with 30% import tariffs. In addition, the U.S. has tightened the terms of its 60-year blockade of Cuba and announced plans to seize the Panama Canal.

Against the backdrop of growing U.S. military activity in the Caribbean and Pacific regions, Colombian President Gustavo Petro noted in an exclusive interview with CNN at the end of November 2025 that the Trump administration campaign of pressure on Venezuela and Latin American countries is, in fact, aimed at gaining access to South American oil.

He accused the U.S. of trying to impose its will on its neighbors, comparing its actions to imperialism and neo-colonialism.

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, Trump ordered the “Department of War” to prepare for possible military action in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria (230 million inhabitants), as the U.S. president continues to accuse that country of violence against Christians.

At Trump’s direction, the U.S. 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 U.S.’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.

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 Trump’s arrival in power, the U.S. 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.

Trump’s decision to impose 30% tariffs on imports of any products from the EU was one of the measures of this neo-colonialist policy. With regard to Europe, the U.S. administration is making tough demands that defense spending by each NATO country be at least 5% of its gross domestic product.

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.

This policy is not just a tactical maneuver; it is a deliberate series of steps to escalate conflicts and international chaos that benefit the U.S. 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, U.S. 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 the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the U.S. currently accounts for 43% of global arms exports.

On the one hand, the U.S. administration positions itself as an alleged peacemaker in resolving conflicts in Ukraine, Armenia, Iran, Palestine and Taiwan while, on the other hand, it continues to actively supply weapons to the warring parties, thereby pursuing its policy of neo-colonialism. Additionally, the U.S. administration domestically has launched a large-scale rearmament program, including nuclear weapons.

Neo-colonial 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 U.S. and the EU, cause significant economic, humanitarian and environmental damage to the populations of developing countries, and contribute to increased poverty and migration trends.

Fortunately, there is a growing pushback seen among the BRICS countries and others who are mobilizing together to undercut the pernicious impact of neo-colonialism.

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