The US 'Donro Doctrine' Expands Its Sphere of Influence to South America and Greenland [News Seolcham]

The Donro Doctrine: Inheriting the Monroe Doctrine
First Introduced by President Monroe in 1823
Used as a Basis for Intervention in Central and South America During the Trump Era
Expanding US Sphere of Influence to Greenland

Editor's Note'Seolcham' is a newly coined term meaning "refer to the explanation for details." In [News Seolcham], we pinpoint parts of the news that require fact-checking or further explanation and provide more detailed information.

The United States is strengthening its dominance in the Western Hemisphere, encompassing Central and South America, as demonstrated by its airstrike on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. President Donald Trump's diplomatic strategy has its roots in the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine, advocated by former President James Monroe, was a diplomatic strategy that defined the entire American continent-the Western Hemisphere-as a sphere of US influence.

The Donro Doctrine: Inheriting the Monroe Doctrine

Illustration depicting the Monroe Doctrine (left) and a satirical illustration of the Donro Doctrine. Screenshot by X

On the 3rd (local time), the day the US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, President Trump stated at a press conference, "The Monroe Doctrine is a very important concept, but now people are talking about the 'Donro (Donald + Monroe) Doctrine.' Venezuela has acquired offensive weapons that could threaten US interests and lives, which is a violation of US diplomatic principles. US dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned."

The Monroe Doctrine was mentioned by President Monroe during a speech to the US Congress in December 1823. It established the principle that the Western Hemisphere, encompassing the American continent, was a US sphere of influence and rejected interference from foreign powers. At the time, President Monroe asserted, "The United States has a special interest in neighboring countries. Neighboring countries mean the Western Hemisphere," warning European powers against colonial ambitions in South America.

President Trump replaced the "M" in Monroe with a "D" from Donald, pursuing a foreign policy that inherits the Monroe Doctrine. In last year's newly announced National Security Strategy (NSS), the United States stated regarding the Donro Doctrine, "We reaffirm and enforce the Monroe Doctrine by presenting the Donro Doctrine," emphasizing, "Through the Donro Doctrine, we will restore US prestige within the Western Hemisphere."

Monroe Sought to Protect US Independence, Later Used as Justification for Intervention in Central and South America

US President Donald Trump on the 3rd (local time) revealed recent photos of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was captured by the US military in a surprise military operation, on the social networking service Truth Social. Yonhap News

The Monroe Doctrine was originally a strategy to protect the independence of the fledgling United States from European powers. However, as the US grew stronger over time, it increasingly became a justification for intervention in Central and South American countries. For example, President Theodore Roosevelt dispatched Marines to Santo Domingo in 1904, Nicaragua in 1911, and Haiti in 1915. At the time, President Roosevelt publicly announced the "Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine" in Congress to justify these actions. The corollary declared, "Chronic wrongdoing in the Western Hemisphere may require intervention by a civilized nation," and stated, "If such wrongdoing or inability is evident, the United States will reluctantly exercise international police power."

During the "Cuban Missile Crisis" in 1962, when the Soviet Union attempted to build a missile base in Cuba, the United States invoked the Monroe Doctrine to blockade the seas and airspace around Cuba. In a case similar to the recent Venezuelan military operation, during the 1989 invasion of Panama, 27,000 US troops were deployed to capture General Manuel Noriega.

Greenland Also Included in US Sphere of Influence

Surveillance facility owned by the U.S. military installed in Greenland. Since World War II, the United States has been stationed in Greenland and has invested in various military equipment. YouTube capture

President Trump has also set his sights on Greenland, a territory of Denmark. The basis for expanding US influence to Greenland is also found in the Monroe Doctrine.

In 1941, at the height of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt declared, "Greenland also belongs to the Western Hemisphere." This provided justification for the United States to conduct military operations in Greenland under the Monroe Doctrine.

At the time, President Roosevelt invoked the Monroe Doctrine to help European countries suffering under Nazi Germany. Denmark had already been occupied by Germany, and if Greenland were also taken, supply convoys crossing the North Atlantic to Britain would be at risk. The United States, along with Britain, Canada, and other Allied nations, dispatched Marines to occupy Greenland and Iceland, stationed troops there, and protected the convoys, which allowed them to gain an advantage in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Even after the war, US troops continued to be stationed in Greenland. With the onset of the Cold War against the Soviet Union, Greenland and Iceland, along with northern Britain, formed a barrier against enemy nuclear submarines. The sea route connecting Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom is called the "GIUK Gap." The United States, together with Britain, invested considerable resources in building undersea surveillance facilities, known as SOSUS, in this region.