US Arrests Venezuelan Leader Using 'Monroe Doctrine', Ignores 200 Years of Imperialism
The AP frames the Monroe Doctrine as a simple bulwark against European meddling, now dusted off by the 47th President for Maduro's arrest. What they gloss over is the doctrine's real-world application: a convenient pretext for countless U.S.-backed coups, regime changes, and economic subjugation across Latin America. From the United Fruit Company's Banana Republics to the Contra wars, 'America's
backyard' has always meant 'America's playpen.' The 2002 coup attempt against Hugo Chávez, for instance, openly supported by the Bush administration, showcased this doctrine in action, ironically against a democratically elected leader. Trump playfully dubs it the 'Don-roe Doctrine,' (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, 2026-01-04T16:01:57Z) but it's the same old tune: US 'concerns' over sovereignty, but only
when it's not their own. One might wonder if the doctrine applies to Saudi Arabia or any other despotic regime the U.S. happens to like, or if it's exclusively for nations pursuing economic independence not aligned with Washington's interests. The 'Don-roe Doctrine' is simply a brand update on 'might makes right' in the Western Hemisphere.