The world has been thrust into uncharted geopolitical territory following the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro by the United States. This unprecedented action, justified by President Donald Trump through a radical reinterpretation of 19th-century American policy, threatens to make international relations significantly more volatile and dangerous.
The Return of the Monroe Doctrine with a Trumpian Twist
To comprehend the rationale behind this bold move, one must understand the newly minted 'Donroe Doctrine'. This policy finds its roots in the original Monroe Doctrine of the 1830s, which declared the Americas a US sphere of influence and warned European powers against colonial ventures.
In late 2025, the White House resurrected this historical concept in its national security strategy, appending a 'Trump Corollary'. This addition asserted that the US would no longer tolerate what it termed 'chronic wrongdoing' by hostile or criminal neighbours in its backyard.
President Trump has now explicitly framed the capture of Maduro under this doctrine. 'We have superseded it by a lot,' he stated, referring to the Monroe Doctrine. 'They now call it the 'Donroe Doctrine'. American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.' This statement, made on Sunday 4 January 2026, marks a profound escalation in regional interventionism.
Venezuela as the First Target: What Comes Next?
The operation in Venezuela, which the US President says will lead to America 'running Venezuela for the foreseeable future', is presented not as an isolated incident, but as the opening salvo of a broader strategy. According to analysis by Sky News' International affairs editor Dominic Waghorn, the Trump administration may consider a range of other actors in Latin America as fair game.
The potential list of future targets under the Donroe Doctrine's expansive mandate is concerning for regional stability:
- The powerful and violent cartels of Mexico.
- The 'corrupt failing regime' in Cuba.
- The prolific cocaine laboratories in Colombia.
This approach signals a return to a more overtly interventionist and unilateral US foreign policy, drawing direct parallels to the early 19th century but with modern military and political capabilities.
A Weirder and More Dangerous Geopolitical Landscape
The implications of this doctrine extend far beyond Venezuela's borders. By unilaterally seizing the leader of a sovereign nation and declaring an intention to administer its affairs, the United States has established a precedent with global repercussions. The move fundamentally challenges contemporary norms of state sovereignty and non-intervention.
As Dominic Waghorn's analysis concludes, the reactivation and aggressive expansion of the Monroe Doctrine into the 'Donroe Doctrine' suggests that geopolitics is about to become 'weirder and potentially a lot more dangerous'. The critical question now facing diplomats, analysts, and neighbouring states is: who might be next? The stability of the entire Western Hemisphere may hinge on the answer.
