Key Takeaways:
- The US has a long history of interventions in South and Central America and the Caribbean, with a mix of covert and overt actions.
- The recent US military attack on Venezuela marks an unprecedented moment as the first direct US military attack on a South American country.
- The Trump administration’s new national security strategy calls for an "expansion" of the US military presence in the region, which is seen as a "Trump corollary" to the Monroe doctrine.
- Almost every country in the region has experienced some form of US intervention, including Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, Brazil, and Panama.
- US interventions in the region have often created long-term problems of succession and have rarely been followed by peace, tranquillity, stability, and democracy.
Introduction to US Interventions in the Region
The US bombardment of Venezuela and the capture of its president, Nicolás Maduro, follow a long history of interventions in South and Central America and the Caribbean over the past two centuries. However, this recent action marks an unprecedented moment as the first direct US military attack on a South American country. At a press conference after Maduro’s capture, Donald Trump said that "American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again". This statement reflects the Trump administration’s aggressive approach to foreign policy in the region, which is outlined in its new national security strategy.
A History of US Interventions
Since the mid-19th century, the US has intervened in its continental neighbours not only through economic pressure but also militarily, with a long list of invasions, occupations, and coups. For example, the US invaded Mexico in 1847, occupying the capital, Mexico City, and forcing Mexico to cede 55% of its territory. The US also helped Cuba in its war of independence against Spain in 1898, but later occupied the island until 1902 and again from 1906 to 1909. In addition, the US invaded Haiti in 1915, taking control of customs, the treasury, and the national bank until 1934. These interventions have had a profound impact on the region, often creating long-term problems of succession and undermining democracy.
The Trump Administration’s New National Security Strategy
The Trump administration’s new national security strategy calls for an "expansion" of the US military presence in the region, which is seen as a "Trump corollary" to the Monroe doctrine. This strategy is a significant shift in US foreign policy, as it explicitly states that the US will use military force to achieve its goals in the region. According to Maurício Santoro, a professor of international relations at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, this strategy "signals a major shift in foreign and defence policy – one that is made explicit in the new national security strategy published by the Trump administration a few weeks ago".
Examples of US Interventions in the Region
Almost every country in the region has experienced some form of US intervention, overt or covert, in the past decades. For example, in Brazil, a US naval taskforce was positioned off the coast to intervene in case there was resistance to the military coup that overthrew the democratically elected leftwing president João Goulart in 1964. In Panama, the US militarily backed the separatist movement that led to Panama’s break from Colombia in 1903 and later invaded the country in 1989 to capture the dictator Manuel Noriega. These interventions have had a profound impact on the region, often creating long-term problems of succession and undermining democracy.
The Consequences of US Interventions
According to Alan McPherson, a history professor at Temple University, US interventions in the region have rarely been followed by peace, tranquillity, stability, and democracy. Instead, they have often created long-term problems of succession and undermined democracy. McPherson said that it is "very rare" for US interventions in the region to be followed by "peace, tranquillity, stability and democracy". He added that "US interventions almost always create long-term problems of succession". The consequences of US interventions in the region are complex and far-reaching, and it remains unclear whether a similar outcome will follow in Venezuela, which Trump has said would be "run" by the US until a "proper transition can take place".
Conclusion
In conclusion, the US has a long history of interventions in South and Central America and the Caribbean, with a mix of covert and overt actions. The recent US military attack on Venezuela marks an unprecedented moment as the first direct US military attack on a South American country. The Trump administration’s new national security strategy calls for an "expansion" of the US military presence in the region, which is seen as a "Trump corollary" to the Monroe doctrine. As the region moves forward, it is essential to understand the complex history of US interventions and their consequences, in order to build a more peaceful and stable future.
