Whenever the United States sought to justify its power politics, it frequently invoked the Monroe Doctrine. Current foreign policy also draws upon James Monroe’s speech delivered over 200 years ago. He was the fifth U.S. president and the last of the Founding Fathers generation. During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), he fought against British colonial troops.
When James Monroe addressed the nation on December 2, 1823—a speech that later went down in history as the Monroe Doctrine—the United States was still a relatively young state. Having declared independence in 1776, Monroe was concerned with the sovereignty of his country. He warned European powers against further expansion on the American continent and called on them to abandon any colonial aspirations.
The Confident Stance of a Young Nation
These fears were well-founded. At the time, the U.S. bordered the British colony of Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, which had belonged to the Spanish crown only two years prior. To the northwest lay present-day Alaska, then Russian territory. By 1823, some South American states had already won independence from Spain or Portugal, while others were still fighting. However, if European monarchies had attempted to reconquer them and suppress republican movements, the United States would have been isolated and potentially faced the threat of invasion. These were the considerations of then-Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, Monroe’s successor as president.
Nevertheless, the U.S. had every reason to act with confidence. In 1803, they purchased the vast French colony of Louisiana from Napoleon Bonaparte for 15 million dollars, as he needed funds for his wars in Europe. This doubled U.S. territory and laid the groundwork for future westward expansion. In 1819, an agreement was reached with Spain for the transfer of Florida to the United States.
The Second War of Independence
Seven years earlier, on June 19, 1812, the U.S. declared war on Great Britain. Tensions were high as British warships repeatedly seized American merchant vessels en route to Europe. British naval blockades and trade restrictions were perceived in the U.S. as violations of sovereignty and free trade. Furthermore, the British kidnapped thousands of American sailors, forcing them into service in the Royal Navy. Finally, the British maintained fortified positions on American territory in the Appalachians, hindering American settlement of Indigenous lands. Another point of contention was the territorial claims of both countries over Canadian regions.
The War of 1812 was described by then-President James Madison as the Second War of Independence and concluded on December 24, 1814, with the signing of a peace treaty. Americans felt they were finally being recognized internationally as an independent power.
Demanding European Non-Interference
The United States, as James Monroe emphasized in 1823, had never participated in the wars of European powers and did not intend to interfere in European affairs in the future. In return, Monroe prohibited situations where: “Our rights would be invaded or seriously menaced.” Should this occur, he promised: “We shall make preparations for our defense.”
In his speech, he explicitly mentioned the Caribbean and Latin America. Monroe assured that the U.S. would never: “Leave our southern brothers to themselves.” Any European intervention in these regions would be viewed as a manifestation of an: “Unfriendly disposition toward the United States.” In response, the United States promised to respect the existence of remaining colonies.
Initially, Monroe’s speech was seen as a gesture of solidarity. Former colonies in North and South America stabilized as independent states despite European attempts at recolonization. In 1867, the Russians also withdrew, selling Alaska to the United States.
America’s Backyard
By the early 20th century, the United States had transformed into a significant world power. Consequently, in 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt added a provision to the Monroe Doctrine known as the Roosevelt Corollary. It stated that the U.S. had the right to intervene in the affairs of Latin American countries to prevent what he called: “Chronic wrongdoing and instability.” From then on, the “southern brothers” began to perceive the United States as a police power. Latin America came to be viewed by the U.S. government as the country’s “backyard.”
Another expansion of the Monroe Doctrine was proclaimed in 1954, at the height of the Cold War, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This concerned the so-called “Domino Theory.” The goal was to combat communism and prevent countries from falling one by one into the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence. This was the justification for involvement in the war against North Vietnam. There followed numerous intelligence interventions and military invasions in Nicaragua, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Guatemala, Chile, Grenada, and finally, Venezuela, when President Nicolás Maduro was removed to the United States.
Trump and the Donroe Doctrine
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Monroe Doctrine was briefly forgotten. However, Donald Trump invoked it during his first presidency. He noted that the activity of the People’s Republic of China in “our backyard,” the Latin American region, was an absolutely unacceptable violation of Washington’s core interests.
During his second term, he returned to this concept. The 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy stated: “After years of neglect, the United States will reaffirm and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American primacy in the Western Hemisphere.”
Following the apprehension of Maduro by American forces, Trump stated: “The Monroe Doctrine is a significant thing, but we have surpassed it many times over—really, a lot. Now they call it the Donroe Doctrine.”
It was the New York Post that first dubbed Trump’s revived strategy the “Donroe Doctrine,” using the President’s name. Political scientist and analyst Bernd Greiner, in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, noted: “The term Donroe Doctrine sounds like Don Corleone—mafia-style.” According to the analyst, Trump conducted his policy in a similar fashion. Unpredictability became his primary currency, alongside blackmail and intimidation, much like mafia gangs.
The U.S. President himself, however, took a liking to the name “Donroe Doctrine.” Following the events in Venezuela, he was already contemplating further actions under the National Security Strategy. Trump emphasized: “Colombia is also very sick and run by a sick man who likes to produce cocaine and sell it to the United States. And he won’t be doing that for long.” Regarding Mexico, he also indicated that something would have to be done, although he appreciated that country’s president. The reason given was that Mexico was under the control of drug cartels.
Finally, Trump mentioned Greenland, which had come into the sights of Russia and China. According to him, the island was necessary for national security because the Danes could not handle the threat. Trump added: “I would like to reach an agreement the easy way. But if we can’t do it the easy way, we’ll do it the hard way.”
Источник: New York Post, Süddeutsche Zeitung
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