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In the grand, swirling chaos of global politics, where yesterday’s headlines are forgotten before lunch, some ideas prove remarkably stubborn. Take the Monroe Doctrine, for example. First declared in 1823, this guiding principle of U.S. foreign policy has resurfaced time and again, adapting to the times while never quite fading away. And now, in an era of renewed great-power competition, the doctrine seems to be making yet another comeback—this time, with a distinctly Trumpian twist.
A Quick History Lesson (Don’t Worry, It’s Interesting)
Two hundred years ago, President James Monroe had a message for Europe: Stay out of the Americas! As newly independent nations in Latin America were shaking off Spanish rule, Monroe—egged on by Britain, which had its own reasons for keeping European rivals at bay—declared that the Western Hemisphere was off-limits to further colonization. Any European meddling, he warned, would be considered a threat to the United States.
At the time, this was more wishful thinking than hard policy. The U.S. lacked the military muscle to enforce Monroe’s bold proclamation, and it was the Royal Navy, not the fledgling American republic, that actually kept European empires at bay. But as the U.S. grew into a global power, the Monroe Doctrine evolved from an aspirational statement into a justification for action.
How America Used (and Abused) the Doctrine
The doctrine got a major upgrade in 1904 when Theodore Roosevelt added his famous corollary, arguing that the U.S. had not just the right but the duty to intervene in Latin America to maintain stability. This set the stage for a long history of U.S. involvement—some benevolent, some not so much.
During the Cold War, the doctrine was dusted off again, this time to justify opposition to Soviet influence in the Western Hemisphere. The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962? A textbook case of the U.S. enforcing Monroe’s vision, as President Kennedy stared down Khrushchev over Soviet nukes in Castro’s backyard.
By the late 20th century, the doctrine seemed less relevant. The U.S. was preoccupied with the Middle East, China, and globalization. But history, as they say, has a way of repeating itself.
Enter Trump: A Modern Monroe Doctrine?
While President Donald Trump was no history professor, his foreign policy instincts bore a striking resemblance to Monroe’s playbook—whether he knew it or not. His administration took a particularly hard line on foreign influence in the Americas, making clear that the U.S. wasn’t going to stand idly by while rival powers made inroads in the region.
Take China, for instance. Over the past two decades, Beijing has poured billions into Latin America, investing in infrastructure, energy projects, and natural resources. While previous U.S. administrations mostly shrugged, Trump’s team saw this as a direct challenge. His officials, including then-National Security Advisor John Bolton, explicitly revived the Monroe Doctrine’s language, warning that foreign powers—China, Russia, even Iran—had no business meddling in America’s backyard.
It’s also important to note that in Trump’s interpretation of foreign policy, the underlying principles of the doctrine—opposing external influence in a strategic region and asserting American dominance—were mirrored in his approach to the Asia-Pacific.
On the trade front, Trump’s renegotiation of NAFTA into the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) was a clear move to assert U.S. dominance in regional economics. His administration also imposed sanctions on Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, blocked foreign-backed socialist movements, and took a hard stance on illegal immigration—policies that, intentionally or not, mirrored the original spirit of the Monroe Doctrine.
An America-First Foreign Policy Or Just More of the Same?
Was Trump’s approach truly a revival of the Monroe Doctrine, or was it just standard nationalist foreign policy dressed up in historical garb? That depends on how you look at it. His defenders argue that he was simply reaffirming U.S. sovereignty and protecting American interests in a world where China, Russia, and other rivals were testing America’s resolve. His critics, meanwhile, saw his approach as clumsy, isolationist, or even neo-imperialistic.
Either way, the Monroe Doctrine’s underlying idea—that the U.S. should keep foreign powers from gaining influence in the Western Hemisphere—was alive and well under Trump. And, with tensions rising between the U.S. and China, it’s likely that future presidents, regardless of party, will find themselves channeling a little Monroe when dealing with Latin America.
The More Things Change…
So, what’s the takeaway? The Monroe Doctrine may be nearly two centuries old, but it still casts a long shadow over American foreign policy. Whether invoked to block European colonization, Soviet expansion, or Chinese investment, its core message remains surprisingly consistent: This hemisphere is America’s sphere of influence, and outsiders should tread carefully.
Monroe probably didn’t envision a world where his doctrine would be name-dropped by a reality TV star-turned-president. But history has a funny way of keeping old ideas relevant. And in the rough-and-tumble world of global power plays, some things never really go out of style.