Daily UPSC Current : 21 Jan 2026/ What is Donroe Doctrine ?

The term “Donroe Doctrine” has surged into global headlines following a dramatic U.S. military operation in early January 2026. It represents a 21st-century evolution of American foreign policy that prioritizes unilateral force, economic control, and the “protection” of the Western Hemisphere from non-American influence.

The term became a focal point due to Operation Absolute Resolve, a high-stakes military raid on January 3, 2026.

• The Raid: U.S. Special Forces (Delta Force and FBI) struck Caracas, Venezuela, seizing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
• The Justification: The Trump administration framed the raid as a “law enforcement action” rather than an invasion, citing Maduro’s indictment for narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.
• The Outcome: Maduro was flown to New York for prosecution. While Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed the interim presidency in Venezuela, the U.S. signaled it would exert significant control over the country’s oil infrastructure.
• The Name: President Trump coined the term “Donroe Doctrine” (a portmanteau of his name and James Monroe) to describe this era of “reasserting American dominance” in the region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is the Donroe Doctrine?

The Donroe Doctrine is a modern, more aggressive interpretation of the 1823 Monroe Doctrine.

It is defined by three main pillars:

• Strategic Denial: The U.S. explicitly forbids “non-hemispheric competitors” (specifically China, Russia, and Iran) from owning infrastructure or positioning military assets in the Americas.
• Transactional Predation: Unlike previous eras that used “soft power” or aid, this doctrine is transactional. It focuses on securing resources (like Venezuelan oil) as a matter of U.S. national security and economic interest.
• Domestic Security Linkage: It treats internal Latin American issues—such as drug trafficking and migration—as direct military threats to the U.S. homeland, justifying “lightning strikes” and raids across borders without prior UN or Congressional approval.

Evolution: From 1823 to 2026:

Phase	Doctrine / Corollary	Core Concept
1823	Monroe Doctrine	Defensive: “Europe, stay out.” Warned European powers not to recolonize the independent Americas.
1904	Roosevelt Corollary	Police Power: Asserted the U.S. right to intervene in Latin American nations to “stabilize” them and keep Europe away.
1960s	Cold War Era	Anti-Communism: Used the doctrine to justify opposing Soviet influence (e.g., Cuban Missile Crisis, Nicaragua).
2025	Trump Corollary	Economic Security: Framed non-American ownership of “vital assets” (canals, oil, mines) as a threat to the U.S.
2026	Donroe Doctrine	Unilateral Dominance: Explicitly uses military force to remove foreign leaders and secure resources, disregarding international law.