Trump Aims to Reinstating Monroe Doctrine

President Donald Trump and his administration are working towards reinstating the Monroe Doctrine, which aims to limit European influence in Latin America and defend U.S. interests in the area. This comes after a period when former Secretary of State John Kerry declared that the doctrine was effectively obsolete.

This renewed focus follows the announcement of a new national security strategy, emphasizing the Western Hemisphere’s importance amid ongoing challenges related to drug trafficking from Latin America. There has been a specific effort to prioritize the security of the U.S. homeland, particularly in light of rising concerns over drug-related fatalities.

“Unlike recent administrations, President Trump has made enforcing the Monroe Doctrine a priority,” said White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly. “He campaigned on his commitment to tackling drug-related deaths, securing our borders, and taking down cartels. And he has acted decisively on both fronts, diminishing the drug flow by both land and sea.”

Earlier this month, Trump stated that the U.S. has intercepted a large Venezuelan oil tanker, marking a new chapter in its confrontations with President Maduro of Venezuela.

“The president is committed to prioritizing the American people by securing our hemisphere, defending our homeland, and combating the designated narco-terrorists responsible for bringing drugs into our country,” Kelly added.

The Monroe Doctrine, initially introduced by President James Monroe in 1823, warned European nations against further colonization in Latin America. Later, President Theodore Roosevelt expanded this idea, justifying U.S. interventions in the region as an “international police power,” as noted in the National Archives.

This strategy contrasts sharply with the approach taken during the Obama administration, which dismantled established policies in favor of fostering more equitable relations with Latin American nations. Kerry had stated back in 2013, “The era of the Monroe Doctrine is over,” pointing towards a desire for cooperation rather than intervention.

The current administration’s strategy explicitly promotes a return to the Monroe Doctrine as a way to reassert U.S. influence, referring to this reimagined approach as a “Trump corollary,” paying respect to Roosevelt’s adaptations.

According to the National Security Strategy, “After years of neglect, the United States will reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American primacy in the Western Hemisphere and protect access to critical areas across the region.” It states, “We deny non-hemispheric competitors the capacity to deploy troops or control strategically significant assets within our hemisphere.”

The Trump administration has aggressively targeted drug trafficking and has labeled drug cartels like Torren de Aragua and Sinaloa as foreign terrorist organizations. Since September, over 20 airstrikes have been conducted against suspected drug vessels in Latin American waters, leading to Trump’s designation of Maduro’s regime as a foreign terrorist organization.

Trump has criticized the Maduro regime for using illicit oil revenues to fund various criminal activities, including narco-terrorism and human trafficking.

The recent airstrikes have increased pressure on Maduro, with Trump suggesting on December 22 that it might be “wise” for Maduro to resign. The administration continues to contest Maduro’s legitimacy as a leader, referring to him as a drug cartel head.

Meanwhile, scrutiny around the airstrikes has grown among both Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Some lawmakers had questioned their legality, especially following revelations of a second airstrike targeting a vessel that had survivors from a previous one.

Prominent voices in the discussion include Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Tim Kaine, with Republican Rand Paul introducing a resolution aimed at limiting Trump’s military actions regarding Venezuela. Despite this, the administration asserts its authority to conduct such military operations.