On July 8th, 2026, United States President Donald Trump’s administration sought to rally Latin American nations behind a revamped Monroe Doctrine. Nicknamed the “Donroe Doctrine,” this policy seeks to explain increased U.S. military intervention in Latin America. However, critics have stated that this rhetoric amounts to modern-day imperialism. 

In Cusco, Peru, Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby stated that “no longer do we separate America’s defense strategy from the concerns of regular Americans.” He asserted that “the best tradition of the Monroe Doctrine is about protecting our own security and interests by empowering and enabling Latin American nations.” However, critics see a different perspective. Representative Nydia Velázquez has argued that the Trump administration’s policy is “a more grotesque version of interventionist policies that have failed us for two centuries.” Instead, she argued for a “New Good Neighbor policy” aimed at improving relations and deepening cooperation across the region, with challenges such as migration, narcotics trafficking, and climate change requiring “partnership, not coercion.”

The assertion of this potential new Monroe Doctrine comes alongside a period of increased U.S. military intervention globally. However, the revised doctrine has only paved the way for increased intervention, violence, and humanitarian crises in the region. According to Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, the January 3rd strikes in Venezuela killed at least 100 people. A New York Times tracker found that, as of July 1st, 2026, over 221 people have been killed in boat strikes in the Caribbean aimed at combating drug trafficking. Meanwhile, the U.N. has reported that the U.S. blockade on oil supply to Cuba has led to a humanitarian crisis within the country. Furthermore, foreign policy analysts have previously noted that the Monroe Doctrine has provoked unease across Latin America as it has historically been associated with U.S. military interventions and domination, rather than genuine partnerships. Intervention in Latin America needs to focus on genuine empowerment and assistance rather than military intervention and imperialistic actions. The Trump Administration’s current policy of the Donroe Doctrine has contributed to the mistreatment of civilians, increased humanitarian crises, and countless civilian deaths. Moving forward, it is essential that action taken in the region is supported by the people and takes into account civilian well-being.

The Monroe Doctrine is the 1823 policy, articulated by President James Monroe, asserting that European powers should respect the Western Hemisphere as the United States’ sphere of interest, establishing U.S. primacy across the Americas. The doctrine has long been used to justify U.S. expansionism and intervention in the region, leading to revolutions and coups. Now, this policy is justifying increased intervention in Latin America, with drug trafficking, illegal migration, and the influence of external powers directly tied to U.S. national defense. On January 3rd, 2026, Trump launched a military attack on Venezuela in which President Nicolas Maduro was captured, increasing U.S. influence in the country. Meanwhile, the U.S. military has been attacking boats in the Caribbean Sea, which have been accused of smuggling drugs. 

While the Donroe Doctrine has been the practiced policy of the United States since Donald Trump’s return to office, the articulation marks a significant escalation. Continued intervention in Latin America will likely lead to deteriorating humanitarian conditions for affected communities and an increasingly negative view of the United States. Moving forward, it is critical for the Trump Administration to consider civilian well-being before taking action in the region.