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Trump’s “Donroe Doctrine” Expands U.S. Hemisphere Reach After Maduro Raid

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Delta Force Raid Captures Maduro and Flores on Jan 3 U.S. special‑operations forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores in a pre‑dawn operation on 3 January, moving them to a New York detention center; reports differ on whether the raid began in Caracas or at a Brooklyn residence, but all agree the operation was executed by Delta Force and framed as a law‑enforcement action [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][10]. The administration presented the capture as a decisive blow against alleged narcotics and terrorism networks, while critics highlighted the unprecedented removal of a sitting head of state without congressional or international authorization [3][4][10]. Trump watched the raid live from Mar‑a‑Lago and praised it on Fox News, calling it “amazing work” [2][5].

Donroe Doctrine Replaces Monroe Doctrine in Trump’s Policy Rhetoric On 8 January Trump announced the “Donroe Doctrine,” a self‑styled corollary to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, to justify expanded U.S. dominance across the Western Hemisphere [1][2][6][7][9]. The doctrine underpins demands that Denmark cede Greenland for security and resource reasons, threats toward Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, warnings to Mexico on cartel violence, and a broader push to control Venezuelan oil [6][7][9]. Trump’s aides framed the doctrine as a permanent shift, while analysts warned it could undermine NATO cohesion and post‑World‑War‑II multilateral norms [1][2][6].

Global Backlash Highlights Legal and Strategic Risks The raid was carried out without a congressional vote or UN mandate, prompting China to condemn it as a violation of sovereignty and raising fears that other powers might adopt similar “clean‑up” logic in contested regions such as the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea [3][4][9]. Denmark’s Prime Minister and Greenland’s government rejected any annexation talk, labeling it a “fantasy” and demanding lawful channels [6][9]. North Korea responded with a hypersonic missile launch, citing the Caracas operation as evidence that nuclear deterrence remains essential [3][4]. The United Nations, Denmark, and Russia issued formal protests, while U.S. lawmakers warned the move could hand diplomatic leverage to rivals [7].

American Public Remains Skeptical of Expansionist Agenda Polls conducted after the raid show only about one‑third of Americans approving the operation, with 72 % expressing concern about deeper U.S. involvement in the hemisphere; opposition spans both parties, and prior surveys indicated strong resistance to proposals such as annexing Greenland or Canada [5][8]. Voters prioritize domestic economic issues over foreign adventures, limiting political space for further unilateral actions [5]. Analysts warn that pursuing unpopular territorial and energy ambitions could provoke foreign clashes and diplomatic blowback despite a vocal minority’s support [5][8].

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Primary Data (3)

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Timeline

1823 – The United States adopts the Monroe Doctrine, declaring the Western Hemisphere off‑limits to European colonization and interference, a principle later invoked to justify hemispheric dominance [1][8].

1904 – President Theodore Roosevelt adds the Roosevelt Corollary, asserting a right of U.S. intervention in Latin America to stabilize “chronic” disorders, providing a historical precedent for later unilateral actions [8].

1945‑1949 – The post‑World‑War II order establishes NATO and a rules‑based international system that successive presidents have built upon, creating expectations of multilateral restraint that now face challenge [1].

2025 – Nationwide polls show 55‑73 % of Americans oppose any U.S. attempt to acquire Greenland or annex Canada, indicating deep public resistance to territorial expansion [3].

Jan 3, 2026 – U.S. Delta Force conducts a night raid in Caracas, abducting President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores and transporting them to a U.S. detention facility, a move framed as law‑enforcement against narcotics and terrorism [5][7][9].

Jan 3, 2026 – The administration labels the operation a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, signaling a broader strategy to reassert U.S. influence across the hemisphere [5].

Jan 4, 2026 – Trump publicly pushes for U.S. control of Greenland, citing Russian and Chinese activity and rare‑earth resources, and announces plans to name Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to pursue annexation [8].

Jan 5, 2026 – The White House announces the “Donroe Doctrine,” declaring the historic Monroe Doctrine superseded and justifying intensified U.S. dominance from Greenland to Venezuela [1].

Jan 5, 2026 – Trump expands the U.S. “backyard” to include Greenland, emphasizing its mineral wealth as a strategic asset under the new doctrine [1].

Jan 5, 2026 – A Washington Post poll finds 40 % of Americans approve of the Maduro capture while 42 % oppose it, highlighting a sharply divided public response [4].

Jan 5, 2026 – Trump threatens Colombian President Gustavo Petro, telling him to “watch his ass” and warning his tenure won’t last long, escalating diplomatic pressure over drug‑trafficking disputes [2].

Jan 5, 2026 – Trump warns Iran that the United States will “hit very hard” if Iranian forces continue killing protestors, extending his confrontational posture beyond the Americas [2].

Jan 5, 2026 – Trump renames the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America,” accuses Mexico of “pouring” drugs across the border, and offers to send troops to combat cartels, a proposal rejected by President Claudia Sheinbaum [2].

Jan 6, 2026 – Trump declares, “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again,” using the Maduro seizure as a template for tougher regional policy [7].

Jan 6, 2026 – Trump warns that Cuba is “going down” without Venezuelan oil subsidies and says a U.S. operation in Colombia “sounds good to me,” hinting at further military interventions [7].

Jan 6, 2026 – The White House states it will “run” Venezuela’s policy and promises that major U.S. oil firms will profit from Caracas’ oil reserves, linking strategic control to economic gain [7].

Jan 6, 2026 – Reuters‑Ipsos polling shows only about one‑third of Americans support the Venezuela raid and a majority (72 %) fear the U.S. would become too involved in the hemisphere [3].

Jan 7, 2026 – North Korea launches a hypersonic missile in direct response to the Caracas operation, a move that hardens Pyongyang’s nuclear posture and raises regional security concerns for Seoul [9][10].

Jan 7, 2026 – South Korean analysts warn that the U.S. precedent of unilateral “neighborhood policing” could embolden China and Russia to justify similar actions in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea [9].

Jan 8, 2026 – Trump watches the Maduro raid live from Mar‑a‑Lago, praises the operation as “amazing work” on Fox News, and uses the moment to showcase his administration’s decisive foreign‑policy style [1].

Jan 8, 2026 – At Mar‑a‑Lago, Trump formally announces the Donroe Doctrine, declaring that under the new policy “American dominance will not be questioned” and that rivals are “threats to be kept at bay” [1].

Jan 9, 2026 – Experts caution that the Donroe Doctrine faces practical constraints, proposing a new “Hemispheric Defense Command” to coordinate U.S. presence while urging NATO allies to increase burden‑sharing for both European and regional security [6].

Jan 9, 2026 – The administration signals intent to press allies for greater defense contributions, linking the Greenland demand to broader NATO cohesion and a shift in alliance dynamics [6].

Future (2026‑2027) – Trump plans to appoint Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland to advance annexation talks, while also signaling possible U.S. military action in Colombia and a broader push to institutionalize the Donroe Doctrine through a Hemispheric Defense Command [8][6].

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