New US National Security Strategy draws criticism across Latin America for reinforcing Monroe Doctrine

The new National Security Strategy (NSS) of the United States, which aims to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere by reinforcing the Monroe Doctrine, has drawn sharp international criticism, with many warning that the strategy threatens to undermine national sovereignty and constrain the foreign policy independence of regional countries.

The Monroe Doctrine was first promoted by then U.S. President James Monroe in 1823. Proclaiming "America for the Americans," the doctrine served as a pretext for the United States to dominate both American continents, impose its power politics, and compel Latin American nations to align with the U.S. will.

On Dec 4, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration introduced its new National Security Strategy, which has been described as a "Trump Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine, although the administration called it a common-sense and potent restoration of American power and priorities, consistent with American security interests -- claims that have met with sharp criticism.

Correio Braziliense, a leading Brazilian daily, quoted international relations scholars who warned that the "Trump Corollary" signals a return to a more interventionist and coercive foreign policy approach.

Similarly, Brazil's Veja magazine noted in a recent analysis that the doctrine has long masked interventionism under the pretext of protecting the Americas.

Atilio Boron, a professor of political and social theory at the University of Buenos Aires, echoed these criticisms, arguing that U.S. engagement in Latin America has consistently been driven by resource interests. He pointed to ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela as a clear example.

"What the United States is most concerned about is to control over this region [Latin America]. Why? Because the region possesses all the vital resources it needs -- water, oil, natural gas, coltan, lithium, copper, gold. These resources are located close to the United States, making them geographically convenient. Therefore, the United States will closely monitor the diplomatic and political dynamics of countries in this region. We have seen this play out by the U.S. government in recent months. What is happening with Venezuela is evidence, and this situation remains unresolved," said Boron.

New US National Security Strategy draws criticism across Latin America for reinforcing Monroe Doctrine

More than 1,000 people gathered in Berlin over the weekend to protest against U.S. threats of military intervention in Venezuela and voice support for the Venezuelan government.

The demonstrations, held on Saturday and Sunday in the German capital, drew participants who condemned the U.S. sanctions on Venezuela and the naval deployments in the Caribbean.

Protesters said that the United States, under the pretext of counter-narcotics, deployed several warships in the Caribbean near Venezuela, and such a military threat was aimed at interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs.

"The military threat brings a great danger. The United States and Western countries, including Europe, are targeting at Latin American countries that refuse to yield to U.S. pressure and stick to pursue independent policies. They are trying to interfere in Latin American politics and install governments that are obedient to them," said Diedrich Franck, organizer of the protest.

Some protesters said the United States' open threat of ground operations to topple the Maduro government was aimed at seizing Venezuela's oil resources.

"The United States has long been treating Latin America as its backyard to exploit its raw materials and also the Latin American people. Venezuela is the country with the largest oil reserves in the world. There are very obvious interests for the United States to seize its resources and at the same time control the entire Latin American continent. Therefore any leftist, anti-imperialist government in Latin America is seen as a problem by the United States," said Max, a German scholar of modern history.

Washington has deployed around a dozen warships and 15,000 troops to the Caribbean Sea, which shares a significant amount of coastline with Venezuela. U.S. forces have carried out at least 21 known strikes since Sept. 2 on boats suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean and East Pacific, killing at least 83 people.

Protesters gather in Berlin against U.S. intervention in Venezuela