Trump's "New Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine: A Repeating Cycle of US Intervention in Latin America

Strategic Insights -

The Trump administration's military strikes against boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia, killing over 60 people, has sparked accusations of US interference in Latin America. However, this is not a new phenomenon, as the US has been meddling in the affairs of its southern neighbors since the 1820s. The Monroe Doctrine, issued by President James Monroe in 1823, warned European countries not to intervene in the Western Hemisphere, but in reality, it set the stage for future US expansionism and intervention in the region.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump administration's strategy in Latin America is based on open hostility, military force, and a carefully stoked moral panic, ignoring the painful history of US interventions in the region.
  • The US has been deploying military force in Latin America since the 19th century, with examples including the Mexican-American War, the occupation of Veracruz, and the creation and arming of the Nicaraguan National Guard.
  • US interventions in Latin America have consistently promised order but delivered chaos, with examples including the Mexican Revolution, the Nicaragua Civil War, and the Contras' paramilitary activities.
  • The American presence in Nicaragua has lasted for over a century, with the country remaining a perennial thorn in the side of the United States.
  • The potential blowback to Trump's actions is not only political but also moral, as the US has consistently failed to realize that its greatest enemy in the region has been itself.
  • The US has consistently disregarded the legitimacy of Latin American governments, with examples including the overthrow of President Madero in Mexico and the support of the Contras in Nicaragua.

Statistics:

  • Over 60 people have been killed in the Trump administration's military strikes against boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia.
  • The US has long been involved in military interventions in Latin America, including the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), the occupation of Veracruz (1914), and the creation and arming of the Nicaraguan National Guard (1912-1933).
  • The Nicaragua Civil War lasted for a decade and shaped a century of suspicion toward US power.
  • The US has consistently breached international law in its interventions in Latin America, including the mining of Nicaraguan harbours and the support of the Contras.

Sources:

  • The Conversation (2021) - "Trump is repeating the long, painful history of US 'policing' of Latin America"
  • Milton Friedman's essay "The Tyranny of the Status Quo"
  • The Monroe Doctrine (1823)
  • The text of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
  • The occupation of Veracruz (1914)
  • The creation and arming of the Nicaraguan National Guard (1912-1933)
  • The Nicaragua Civil War (1927-1937)