In December 1823, US President James Monroe articulated what would become one of the most enduring pillars of American foreign policy. The Monroe Doctrine declared the Western Hemisphere off-limits to further European colonisation or interference, positioning the United States as the guardian of the New World. Though initially dismissed by European powers, the doctrine gradually evolved into a foundational claim of hemispheric authority. It framed the Americas not merely as a geographical space, but as a strategic domain under American supervision.
From the outset, the Monroe Doctrine was never only about protecting Latin America from European imperial ambition. It was equally about securing America’s own sphere of influence. Over time, successive US administrations reinterpreted the doctrine to justify intervention across the hemisphere. During the Cold War, it was invoked to rationalise US actions in Cuba, Guatemala, Chile, and the Dominican Republic. What began as a defensive posture evolved into a licence for intervention.
Two centuries later, this logic has resurfaced in a more explicit form. In January 2026, Donald Trump revived the doctrine under a new label: the “Donroe Doctrine,” a fusion of Donald and Monroe. Following the capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, Trump declared the original Monroe Doctrine “superseded,” announcing instead an era in which American dominance in the Western Hemisphere would never again be questioned. Unlike earlier reinterpretations, this revival dispenses with diplomatic euphemism and openly asserts control.
The Donroe Doctrine is not a subtle recalibration but a blunt reassertion of US supremacy. It reflects Trump’s conviction that America must reclaim absolute authority over its hemisphere, confronting rival powers. China’s expanding investments across Latin America, Russia’s security ties with Venezuela and Cuba, and even European diplomatic engagement are all framed as strategic threats. The message is clear: the United States will deploy economic, political, and military power to block competing influence in its near abroad.
The distinction between the two doctrines is clear. Monroe’s vision was defensive, designed to deter European return to the Americas. Trump’s Donroe Doctrine is offensive, premised on intervention and resource control. Venezuela illustrates this shift. Following Maduro’s removal, US oil companies moved rapidly into the Latin American country, with Trump promising that their investments would be repaid through access to Venezuela’s vast reserves. Control of energy resources thus becomes both strategy and signal.
For Washington, the Donroe Doctrine offers short-term gains: access to Venezuelan oil, renewed leverage over Latin America, and a demonstration of military might. It reinforces Trump’s narrative of American strength and deterrence. Yet the negatives are equally bare. Latin American nations view this as imperialism, a return to the era when Washington dictated their politics. The doctrine risks alienating allies, provoking resistance, and driving countries closer to China and Russia as counterweights.
Globally, the implications are significant. By reasserting hemispheric primacy, the United States risks turning Latin America into a renewed theatre of great-power competition. Rather than reducing instability, this could deepen it, encouraging affected states to hedge their alliances and diversify partnerships.
For Africa, and Nigeria in particular, these developments carry indirect but serious consequences. As US strategic attention pivots toward Latin America, Africa risks further marginalisation within Washington’s global priorities. At the same time, any successful pushback against China in the Americas may redirect Chinese capital, trade, and geopolitical focus more aggressively toward Africa. Nigeria, already heavily exposed to Chinese finance and infrastructure investment, would feel these pressures acutely.
There are also material economic risks. Increased Venezuelan oil output under US influence could expand global supply and depress prices. For Nigeria, whose fiscal stability remains tightly linked to oil revenue, sustained price declines would strain public finances, weaken the naira, and exacerbate debt vulnerabilities. Other African oil producers such as Angola, Algeria, and Libya would face similar exposure. The Venezuelan case underscores how resource-dependent economies remain vulnerable to geopolitical shifts far beyond their borders.
Beyond economics, Donroe Doctrine raises deeper questions about sovereignty and precedent. If great powers increasingly justify intervention based on proximity and strategic entitlement, smaller states everywhere become more exposed. Africa’s history of external intervention makes this especially concerning. Nigeria, with its demographic weight and regional influence, must interpret these signals carefully. Power politics rarely remain confined to one region.
Security considerations further complicate the picture. As US resources and attention concentrate elsewhere, counter-terrorism cooperation in West Africa could weaken. Nigeria’s ongoing battle against Boko Haram and ISWAP depends in part on international intelligence, logistics, and financial support. A diminished US focus would create gaps that regional actors may struggle to fill.
The latest developments show Trump doubling down. He has spoken of extending the Donroe Doctrine to Colombia, Cuba, and even Greenland, while US oil companies prepare for massive investments in Venezuela. His supporters hail it as a return to unapologetic American strength, a huge up of MAGA – his Make America Great Again slogan.
In the end, the Monroe Doctrine was a myth that became legend, shaping two centuries of US foreign policy. The Donroe Doctrine is its brash offspring, born of Trump’s ambition to rewrite history and reclaim dominance. Whether it becomes another enduring legend or collapses under resistance remains to be seen. What is certain is that the world cannot ignore it. For the US, it is a gamble on power; for Africa and Nigeria, it is a reminder that myths, once revived, can reshape reality.
