The world has been thrust into uncharted geopolitical territory following the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro by the United States. President Donald Trump has framed this unprecedented action as the opening salvo of a newly assertive foreign policy for the Western Hemisphere, one he has branded the 'Donroe Doctrine'.
The Birth of the 'Donroe Doctrine'
To comprehend the scale of this shift, one must look back to the 1830s. Then, the Monroe Doctrine declared the Americas a US sphere of influence, warning European powers against colonial ventures. For two centuries, it remained a historical footnote.
This changed at the end of 2025, when the White House's national security strategy resurrected the doctrine, appending a 'Trump Corollary'. It stated the US would not tolerate what it termed "chronic wrongdoing" by hostile or criminal neighbours.
Now, President Trump has acted. "We have superseded it by a lot," he said of the old policy. "They now call it the 'Donroe Doctrine'. American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again." The US has stated it will be running Venezuela for the foreseeable future.
Who Could Be Next in America's Backyard?
The administration's bold move in Caracas raises urgent questions about where it might turn its attention next. Analysts point to several potential targets within what the US views as its backyard.
Dominic Waghorn, International Affairs Editor, notes there are "plenty more hostile or criminal neighbours" that Mr Trump may consider fair game. These include:
- The powerful and violent cartels of Mexico.
- The corrupt failing regime in Cuba.
- The prolific cocaine laboratories in Colombia.
The explicit framing of these entities as legitimate targets under the new doctrine suggests a period of heightened instability and potential conflict in the region.
A New and Dangerous Geopolitical Era
The capture of a sitting head of state from a sovereign nation, justified by a 19th-century policy principle, marks a profound break with international norms. Experts warn that geopolitics is set to become weirder and potentially a lot more dangerous.
By invoking the Donroe Doctrine—a portmanteau of 'Donald' and 'Monroe'—President Trump has signalled a return to a more unilateral and interventionist era. The doctrine's vague criteria for action against "chronic wrongdoing" provides a broad mandate that could be applied to numerous nations.
As the world digests the news from Sunday 4 January 2026, the central question is no longer just about Venezuela's future, but about the stability of the entire Latin American region and the new rules of engagement being written by Washington.
