The Mexican president responds to Trump: The American continent does not belong to anyone
In a firm stance reflecting escalating geopolitical tensions in the Western Hemisphere, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum asserted that the Americas "do not belong to any foreign ideology or power," emphasizing the sovereign decision-making of the region's nations. These fiery remarks followed the dramatic developments in Venezuela, namely the swift US military operation in Caracas that resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to the United States.
A response to the new “Donoro Doctrine”
Sheinbaum's direct response came after statements by US President Donald Trump, who announced a radical overhaul of US foreign policy toward Latin America. Sheinbaum described the continent as "belonging to the people of each of the countries that comprise it," rejecting the custodianship approach Washington attempted to impose through this recent process. Trump had stated at a press conference that his administration had moved beyond the traditional "Monroe Doctrine" to establish what he called the "Donroe Doctrine.".
Trump explained that the new term is a linguistic portmanteau combining the first three letters of his first name, "Don," and the last letter of his predecessor James Monroe's name, "Roe," thus putting his personal stamp on the new American strategy. As part of his National Security Strategy, Trump asserted that "American dominance in the Western Hemisphere is now untouchable," signaling a shift toward a more interventionist and direct policy.
Historical context: From 1823 to the present day
To understand the depth of this dispute, one must return to the historical roots of the "Monroe Doctrine," launched by the fifth US President, James Monroe, in 1823. This doctrine originally stipulated that any intervention by European powers in the affairs of the Americas would be considered an act of hostility against the United States, with the aim of making Latin America an exclusive sphere of influence for Washington. Today, with Trump's announcement of an updated version, the United States appears to be reviving this concept in a more stringent manner to deal with regimes it deems hostile to its interests.
Details of the operation and its regional repercussions
On the ground, this new doctrine was translated into action early Saturday morning through a high-profile military operation launched by US forces in Caracas, where Maduro and his wife were arrested and flown to New York to face charges related to "terrorism and drug trafficking." This direct military action sent shockwaves through Latin American capitals, particularly those governed by leftist movements.
Trump's warnings weren't limited to Venezuela; he also issued explicit warnings to other governments in the region, including Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico. He singled out Mexico with specific demands regarding the need to redouble efforts to combat drug trafficking, a move that puts Mexican-American relations to a real test, especially given Sheinbaum's insistence on her country's sovereignty and her rejection of any notion of subservience.
