The ‘Donroe Doctrine’: How Trump’s Revival of a 200-Year-Old Idea Is Reshaping Global Power — And Why India Should Pay Attention
9th January 2026
By International Affairs Desk
Two centuries after it was first articulated, a forgotten pillar of American foreign policy has returned to the center of global geopolitics — but in a far more aggressive form. US President Donald Trump has effectively repackaged the Monroe Doctrine into what analysts now describe as the “Donroe Doctrine”, using it to justify bold American actions in Venezuela and hint at similar moves in Greenland.
While Washington projects this as a defense of national security, the consequences stretch far beyond the Western Hemisphere. China is watching closely, learning lessons that could have serious implications for the Indo-Pacific and India’s strategic environment.
From Monroe to “Donroe”: What Has Changed?
The original Monroe Doctrine, announced in 1823, was a warning to European empires: stay out of the Americas. It was framed as a defensive principle — no new colonization, no external interference.
Trump’s version, however, flips that logic on its head.
The Donroe Doctrine is not about discouraging outside powers through diplomacy. It is about actively enforcing US dominance, even through coercion, regime pressure, and direct intervention. Under this approach, the Western Hemisphere is treated not merely as an area of influence, but as a zone of control where rival powers — especially China and Russia — are not allowed meaningful strategic space.
In simple terms:
- Monroe said: “Don’t interfere.”
- Donroe says: “We decide who belongs here.”
Venezuela: The First Major Test
The clearest demonstration of this doctrine came with the dramatic US action in Venezuela, where Washington openly defended its intervention as necessary to protect hemispheric stability. Beyond concerns over governance or democracy, the deeper message was unmistakable:
Venezuela’s growing alignment with China, Russia, and Iran crossed a red line.
Beijing’s investments in Venezuelan oil, infrastructure, and credit systems had steadily expanded over the past decade. The US response was not subtle diplomacy but a blunt assertion of power — signaling that economic influence backed by strategic rivals would no longer be tolerated in America’s backyard.
Greenland: A Warning Shot to the World
Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland — an autonomous territory under Denmark — further reveals how far the Donroe Doctrine stretches. Officially justified on national security grounds, the argument centers on Arctic routes, rare-earth minerals, and the growing presence of China and Russia in polar regions.
What shocked allies was not just the proposal, but the assumption behind it: that the United States has the right to reshape territorial arrangements if it deems them strategically necessary.
For many global observers, this marked a shift from alliance-based leadership to transactional dominance.
China’s Silent Calculation
China’s response has been notably restrained — and deliberate.
Rather than confronting Washington directly, Beijing appears to be studying the precedent. The lesson is clear: if major powers openly enforce spheres of influence, international norms become flexible, even optional.
This logic could easily be applied elsewhere:
- The South China Sea
- Taiwan
- Border regions and economic corridors across Asia
In effect, the Donroe Doctrine provides a template: justify unilateral action by invoking security, history, and geography — and act before rivals can coordinate a response.
Why This Matters for India
For India, the implications are subtle but serious.
- Normalization of Spheres of Influence
If the US asserts exclusive control over the Western Hemisphere, China may feel emboldened to claim similar authority in Asia. That directly affects India’s neighborhood and maritime interests. - Shift in US Strategic Focus
A United States deeply engaged in enforcing dominance in the Americas may have less bandwidth for sustained engagement in the Indo-Pacific, potentially altering power balances India relies on. - China’s Strategic Confidence
Seeing Washington act unilaterally could reinforce Beijing’s belief that power — not rules — ultimately shapes outcomes. That belief has consequences for border tensions, regional diplomacy, and economic leverage. - Pressure on Middle Powers
Countries like India may increasingly face choices between competing power blocs, rather than operating in a rules-based multipolar system.
A World Moving Backward — Or Forward?
Ironically, a doctrine born in the age of empires is shaping 21st-century geopolitics. The Donroe Doctrine suggests a world where great powers draw lines on the map again, justified by history and enforced by strength.
Whether this leads to stability or deeper global fragmentation remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Trump’s revival of a 200-year-old idea is not just about Venezuela or Greenland.
