The Monroe Doctrine is President James Monroe’s ironclad 1823 declaration that the Western Hemisphere is off-limits to foreign meddling and activities.
Under-utilized since the end of World War II, the Monroe Doctrine is being redeployed, reminding all that this policy isn’t some dusty relic in the bins of history; instead, it’s the foundational firewall for American security. Today, with President Trump’s National Security Strategy invoking a modern corollary to it, we’re teaching that lesson again in the frontline classroom of real-world geopolitics.
This isn’t imperialism; it’s common-sense sovereignty with a Machiavellian motivation and a natural occurrence in the vacuum of foreign affairs. The Western Hemisphere’s stability is the bedrock of our prosperity and safety. When chaos reigns south of the border, migration surges, cartels thrive, drugs flood our streets, and America bleeds. The future of our hemisphere is being shaped right now, and it’s time to fire a warning shot across the bow of state and non-state actors operating in our Area of Operations. These adversaries aren’t here for friendship; they’re probing weaknesses, embedding influence, shaping the battlefield, and setting the stage for long-term rivalry.
Iran is a prime culprit. The Islamic Republic, through proxies like Hezbollah, has cultivated deep networks in Latin America. Mosques and cultural centers in regions like the Tri-Border Area of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay serve as more than places of worship ... they’re hubs for exporting militant rhetoric, fundraising, and building ideological alliances, serving as command and control for future terror attacks. Tehran leverages diaspora communities and ties with anti-American regimes, particularly in Venezuela, to anchor terrorist networks and spread instability. This is a deliberate effort to foment unrest, positioning Iran as a counterweight to U.S. influence in our backyard.
China’s approach is slicker but no less aggressive. Through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Beijing has locked in over 20 Latin American and Caribbean nations with massive infrastructure investments ranging from ports, roads, energy projects, and telecoms. The Chancay mega-port in Peru just went operational in June 2025 – under Chinese control – drastically cutting shipping times to Asia while giving Beijing strategic leverage over regional trade routes. Even as some BRI momentum has slowed globally, China’s trade dominance in the hemisphere continues growing, surpassing U.S. volumes in key partners like Brazil and Peru. These aren’t pure development aids; they’re tools for economic dependency, access to critical resources like lithium, and potential dual-use infrastructure that could support military projections down the line.
Russia rounds out the trio with overt military muscle. Moscow’s partnerships, especially with Venezuela, include billions in historical arms sales, ongoing training programs with hundreds of Russian advisors embedded, and licensed production of munitions like Kalashnikov rifles and Tula ammunition. Russian forces train Venezuelan troops in advanced drones, artillery, and special operations, while energy deals and sanction-evasion schemes keep the Maduro regime afloat. Periodic deployments of bombers and naval assets underscore the point: Russia is turning parts of South America into forward positions to challenge U.S. hegemony, much like great-power games played elsewhere.
Together, these incursions, along with Iran’s ideological seeding, China’s economic encirclement, and Russia’s military entrenchment, are actively shaping the stability of the Western Hemisphere. Unchecked, they fracture regional alliances, empower corrupt authoritarian regimes, fuel narco-terrorism, and invite escalation that could spill over our borders in waves of migration, crime, and economic disruption.
But here’s the thunderous turnaround: America First is on full display. Trump’s decisive policies – ramping up naval patrols in the Caribbean, intensifying counter-narc operations, securing the southern border, and directly confronting foreign influence – are a masterstroke of strategic focus. We’re prioritizing our hemisphere, building genuine partnerships with reliable neighbors, and delivering the unmistakable message that the Americas are our sphere of vital interest. No more diverting blood and treasure to distant conflicts while adversaries exploit our near abroad.
This revival of the Monroe Doctrine isn’t about domination; it’s about decided deterrence and dominant defense. It’s leadership that safeguards American security, promotes regional prosperity, and upholds sovereignty for all nations in the hemisphere that share our values. The classroom is in session, the adversaries are getting schooled, and with resolute American action, the Western Hemisphere will stand taller, more stable, and more secure.
God bless the United States of America and our true allies in the Americas.
Troy Carico is a former infantry enlisted soldier (11B) and infantry officer with branch qualifications including counterintelligence (35E) and military intelligence (35D). He served with distinction in the U.S. Army for more than 22 years and is highly decorated and service-connected disabled. He also has prior service as a civilian intelligence officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency Great Skills Program and has served in numerous clandestine assignments throughout the world.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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