President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the replacement of the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine with a new foreign policy stance he dubbed the “Donroe Doctrine,” following a U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida, Trump justified the raid as an extension of longstanding U.S. foreign policy, albeit with a new twist. “The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but we’ve superseded it by a lot, by a real lot,” Trump declared, signaling a significant shift in U.S. policy towards Latin America.
The operation, which took place in the early hours of Saturday, resulted in Maduro and his wife surrendering to U.S. forces without any American casualties, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump shared an image of Maduro aboard the USS Iwo Jima on his Truth Social platform, underscoring the success of the mission. The U.S. National Security Strategy, published in November, had hinted at this new direction, explicitly stating an intention to “assert and enforce” a Trump-style addition to the Monroe Doctrine.
The Monroe Doctrine, established in 1823, has long been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy, asserting that any intervention by external powers in the Americas would be viewed as a threat to U.S. security. However, Trump’s announcement marks a departure from previous administrations’ approaches. In 2013, then-Secretary of State John Kerry declared the “era of the Monroe Doctrine is over” under President Barack Obama. Trump’s revival and rebranding of the doctrine as the “Donroe Doctrine” indicate a more aggressive stance towards the region.
During the hour-long press conference, Trump elaborated on his rationale for the operation, citing the need to stop migrants and criminals from reaching the U.S., halt the flow of drugs from Venezuela, and reclaim oil reserves nationalized by the Venezuelan government decades ago. “We sort of forgot about it,” Trump remarked about the Monroe Doctrine, suggesting that his administration was now reinvigorating and expanding upon it. The New York Post’s front page in early January 2025 had already hinted at this shift, with bold letters proclaiming the new “Donroe Doctrine.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the intervention on CBS Evening News, describing it as the “exact opposite” of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Hegseth, who oversaw the operation, emphasized that the U.S. could help both Venezuela and America by reestablishing the Monroe Doctrine with “peace through strength with our allies.” Hegseth praised Trump’s “bold action,” suggesting that it would benefit the entire Western Hemisphere. When asked about the broader implications of the operation, Hegseth stated that it demonstrated Trump’s commitment to action on the global stage.
Trump’s declaration that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela for the time being has raised questions about the future of the country and the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy. The Economist reported on the operation, describing it as an “extraordinary display of the new ‘Donroe doctrine’” and highlighting the military buildup, overnight bombing campaign, and helicopter raid that led to Maduro’s capture. The article also noted the broader regional tensions, such as the unrest in Peru and the changing dynamics in other parts of the Americas.
The capture of Maduro and the introduction of the “Donroe Doctrine” have sparked a range of reactions both domestically and internationally. Critics argue that the operation represents a dangerous escalation of U.S. interventionism, while supporters view it as a necessary step to address regional instability and protect U.S. interests. The long-term impact of this policy shift remains uncertain, but it is clear that Trump’s administration is intent on redefining America’s role in the Western Hemisphere.
As the U.S. navigates this new chapter in its foreign policy, the world will be watching closely to see how other countries respond and whether this marks the beginning of a broader shift in international relations. The “Donroe Doctrine” may well become a defining feature of Trump’s legacy, shaping U.S. engagement with Latin America and beyond for years to come.
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