Trump's Donroe Document and the 2026 Venezuela Maduro Capture Context

The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but it's been superseded by a real lot. US President Donald Trump made a bold declaration on January 3, 2026, justifying the military raid that led to the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This move signals a return to aggressive 19th-century interventionism under a new brand.

The 2026 Venezuela Capture and the Rise of the Donroe Document

Trump refers to this updated policy as the "Donroe Document," merging his own name with the historic Monroe Doctrine. He stated that the United States will essentially "run the country" of Venezuela until a transition is deemed suitable by Washington. The President emphasized that American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.

The capture of Maduro has sparked intense international debate. While Trump frames it as a necessary step for stability, critics view it as a violation of national sovereignty. Trump also notably mentioned that the US intends to take control of Venezuela's oil resources.

A Century of Intervention: From Monroe to Roosevelt to Trump

The Monroe Doctrine, first articulated in 1823, warned European powers against interfering in the Americas. In 1904, Theodore Roosevelt added the Roosevelt Corollary, which asserted the US right to intervene in Latin American countries to maintain economic stability.

This doctrine served as the legal basis for interventions in Haiti, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic throughout the 20th century. Under Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, the US took an even more aggressive stance, supporting the Contras in Nicaragua and maintaining sanctions against Cuba that persist to this day.