Image by Road Ahead.

A recent article published in The Hill celebrated the revival of the Monroe Doctrine under Donald Trump by suggesting that U.S. pressure is displacing China from Latin America. But this view misreads both the nature of U.S. influence and the political and economic dynamics shaping the region. What we are seeing is nothing short of coercion by an empire attempting to secure its declining grip on a hemisphere that is increasingly multipolar and pragmatic in its economic policies.

First declared in 1823, the Monroe Doctrine was a U.S. foreign policy statement warning European powers not to interfere in the Western Hemisphere. While it was originally framed as a protective measure against colonialism, it quickly became the ideological foundation for U.S. interventionism in Latin America, justifying dozens of military invasions, covert operations, and regime changes throughout the 20th century. By the end of the century and the Cold War, there was a growing acceptance that the Monroe Doctrine had outlived its usefulness. Trump’s effort to revive this framework, positioning it as a counter to China’s growing presence, reflects not a commitment to democratic values but a strategic attempt to reassert U.S. regional dominance in an increasingly competitive and multipolar landscape.

Trump-era policy in Latin America has relied heavily on economic threats: punitive tariffs, aid suspensions, and sanctions designed to force governments to reduce engagement with China. While these tactics may have discouraged some bilateral deals, they reflect a fundamental weakness in U.S. foreign policy: Washington is no longer able to compete through constructive means, particularly on the economic front. Unlike China, which offers infrastructure projects and development financing aligned with regional priorities, the U.S. offers few viable alternatives. Instead of investing in mutually beneficial partnerships, it defaults to coercion.

Trump’s approach rests on the assumption that the U.S. can rely on its historical alliances with Latin America’s political and economic elites to counter Chinese influence. But this calculation ignores a key shift: in today’s global economy, ideology matters less than investment and trade.

The idea that Latin America will naturally align with the U.S. because of shared political values or Cold War loyalties no longer holds. Even right-wing governments, supposed allies of Washington, are maintaining and in some cases deepening their ties with Beijing when it benefits their economies.

In Argentina, President Javier Milei ran on a staunch anti-China platform, but economic realities quickly reshaped his position: in 2025, his government extended a critical $5 billion........

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