What we know about U.S. new Monroe Doctrine

Pars Today — Following the attack on Venezuela, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed unprecedented Washington dominance over Latin America under the so-called “Donroe Doctrine” (Donald + Monroe).

According to Pars Today, U.S. President Donald Trump, in a controversial press conference following the attack on Venezuela, claimed that America’s power has now surpassed even the 200-year-old Monroe Doctrine, and that the United States is now the absolute authority over the American continent.

He emphasized that while the Monroe Doctrine is important, “we have now gone far beyond it—far, far beyond! And now they call it the ‘Donroe Doctrine’ (a combination of Donald + Monroe).”

According to him, under the new U.S. national security strategy, American dominance over the Western Hemisphere will never again be questioned. The U.S. president referred to the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, formulated by James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States, which was historically used to justify U.S. military interventions in Latin America, and added his own name to it, calling it the “Donroe Doctrine”, stating: “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never again be challenged.”

The Monroe Doctrine is a fundamental principle of U.S. foreign policy, announced in 1823 by President James Monroe. Its primary goal was to prevent European powers from interfering with or recolonizing the Americas, while simultaneously asserting U.S. dominance over Latin America.

The Monroe Doctrine was not only a response to the specific conditions of the 19th century but also became a cornerstone of American foreign policy for centuries to come. It reflects the United States’ effort to consolidate its sphere of influence in the Western Hemisphere. Today, with the era of European colonial powers over, Washington’s focus has shifted to preventing the influence of Russia and China in Latin America.

The Monroe Doctrine can be summarized in two fundamental principles:

- Non-intervention by the U.S. in European wars and politics: The United States pledged not to interfere in the internal affairs of Europe or its existing colonies.

- Prohibition of recolonization in the Western Hemisphere: Any European attempt to reassert control over Latin American countries would be considered a hostile act against the United States.

Initially, the United States lacked sufficient military power to enforce this policy, and many European powers ignored it. However, Britain, which sought to protect its own commercial interests in the region, supported the doctrine.

Throughout the 19th century, the principle was repeatedly violated, but over time, the U.S. managed to establish it as a cornerstone of its foreign policy. In the 20th century, the Monroe Doctrine expanded and became a tool for consolidating American influence in the Western Hemisphere.

Some U.S. presidents, such as Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, redefined the Monroe Doctrine. In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced a new interpretation through the “Good Neighbor” policy, emphasizing non-intervention and multilateral cooperation.

However, U.S. interventionism in Latin America has continued repeatedly since World War II in various forms, including political and economic pressure, sanctions, sabotage, support for multiple coups, and direct military intervention—examples include the invasions of Grenada and Panama, and now the attack on Venezuela.

It appears that controversial U.S. President Donald Trump, under the banner of his “peace through strength” policy, seeks to redefine and expand American influence over the Western Hemisphere, especially Latin America, and in this context, he has introduced the “Donroe Doctrine.”