Key facts
- The Trump administration is promoting a modernized version of the Monroe Doctrine.
- Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby announced U.S. military strikes against drug boats.
- The U.S. plans joint counter-narcotics operations with allied nations.
- The policy shift aims to address drug trafficking and illegal migration.
- Colby urged Latin American countries to increase defense spending and protect assets from foreign influence.
The Trump administration is seeking to rally Latin American nations behind a modernized Monroe Doctrine, a policy asserting U.S. primacy across the Americas. Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby announced the U.S. military has begun striking drug boats and plans to conduct joint counter-narcotics operations with like-minded countries, a policy already underway in Ecuador.
Colby explained the policy shift, invoking the "Donroe Doctrine," a play on Trump's name. He stated the U.S. military started striking drug boats in the fall and that Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was deposed in January. Colby emphasized that the administration is connecting America's defense strategy to concerns about lethal drugs entering communities, accompanying violence, and the impact of illegal migration.
Addressing concerns that the U.S. rhetoric represents modern-day imperialism, Colby argued that the U.S. does not seek to exploit or depend on Latin American nations. He asserted that America's own power and market dynamics make such actions unnecessary, stating, "We seek your success in securing our neighborhood."
The initiative comes as right-wing, pro-Trump governments are gaining power across the region, including in Peru and Colombia. Colby urged Latin American nations to "protect your critical assets" from external actors, implicitly referring to China's growing influence. He also encouraged increased defense investment, noting that some countries allocate less than 1% of their GDP to defense, particularly those facing significant narco-terrorist threats.