China Defies Trump’s “Donroe Doctrine” in Latin America
In a bold stance against the Trump administration’s renewed hemispheric ambitions, China has declared it will continue deepening its involvement with Latin American and Caribbean nations. This development comes in the wake of the dramatic U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, bringing him to New York to face narcoterrorism charges. The operation exemplifies Trump’s self-proclaimed “Donroe Doctrine,” a modern revival of the 19th century Monroe Doctrine that once established American dominance over the Western Hemisphere. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning made it clear during a Wednesday press briefing that Beijing has no intention of retreating from the region, stating that China “will continue to strengthen cooperation” with its Latin American partners and “continue to support each other,” according to state-run Global Times.
The geopolitical tension has escalated significantly following a provocative State Department post on social media declaring, “This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened.” This assertion of regional dominance has been backed by White House warnings to Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba that they too could face U.S. military action as Trump seeks to reassert American influence throughout the Western Hemisphere. Even Greenland, a Danish territory in the Arctic northeast of Canada, has reportedly entered Trump’s strategic vision for expanded American control. The Chinese response has been measured but firm, with Mao arguing that dividing spheres of influence and creating geopolitical confrontations “will not make a country more secure nor create a peaceful world.”
At the heart of this conflict lies Venezuela’s valuable oil resources and its economic relationships. The Trump administration has demanded that Caracas cut ties with China and sell oil exclusively to the United States – a dramatic intervention in Venezuela’s sovereign economic affairs. China has historically been a major customer of Venezuelan oil under a longstanding oil-for-loans arrangement that has provided crucial economic support to the South American nation. Trump has announced that Venezuela would immediately send 30 to 50 million barrels of its oil to the U.S., while suggesting that the country may face restrictions on further oil production unless it severs its ties with Beijing. This economic pressure represents a significant escalation in America’s approach to reshaping regional alignments.
China’s response to these demands has been particularly pointed. Mao characterized the U.S. actions as “brazen use of force” and criticized the demand that Venezuela dispose of its oil resources under an “America First” principle as “a typical act of bullying.” The spokesperson emphasized that such actions “seriously violate international law, gravely infringe upon Venezuela’s sovereignty, and severely harm the rights of the Venezuelan people.” In a direct challenge to Trump’s approach, Mao asserted that Venezuela “is a sovereign country and enjoys full and permanent sovereignty over its natural resources and all economic activities.” She concluded her remarks with a clear warning: “The legitimate rights and interests of China and other countries in Venezuela must be protected.”
This developing confrontation represents a significant test for both U.S. and Chinese influence in Latin America, a region that has seen growing Chinese economic engagement over the past two decades. China has become a crucial trading partner and source of investment for many Latin American nations, offering an alternative to traditional U.S. dominance in the region. The Trump administration’s aggressive reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine principles through the capture of Maduro and explicit threats to other nations marks a dramatic shift in American foreign policy approach. While previous administrations have maintained influence through economic and diplomatic means, the current administration appears willing to employ direct military action and explicit economic coercion to achieve its regional objectives.
The confrontation highlights fundamentally different visions of international relations. While the U.S. position emphasizes hemispheric control and exclusive spheres of influence, China advocates for a multipolar world where sovereign nations can freely choose their economic and diplomatic partners. As this situation continues to develop, the responses of other Latin American nations will prove crucial in determining the balance of power in the region. Many countries find themselves caught between their historical ties to the United States and the economic opportunities presented by deeper engagement with China. This tension between the “Donroe Doctrine” and China’s expanding influence represents not just a bilateral dispute between major powers, but a defining moment for the future of Latin American sovereignty and development in an increasingly competitive global order.
