In late November 2025, the United States has ramped up its military presence in Caribbean waters off Venezuela, framing the move as a counter-narcotics mission but echoing a more coercive, 21st-century Monroe Doctrine.
Sun Yanfeng, director of the Institute of Latin American Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, recently told Chinese media that this buildup serves three core aims: pressuring for the toppling of President Nicolas Maduro’s government, deterring Latin American countries from drifting away from U.S. influence, and diverting attention from domestic political tensions in Washington.
The trend is underscored by Washington’s unilateral decision earlier this month to label the alleged "Cartel of the Suns" as a terrorist organization despite scant public evidence – a pattern of using security pretexts to reshape the region’s strategic landscape.
Tensions climbed even further this week after U.S. President Donald Trump called on social media for Venezuelan airspace to be considered "closed in its entirety," a declaration that reportedly surprised U.S. officials and drew fierce condemnation from Caracas as a "colonialist threat."
Behind the scenes, Washington has been weighing options ranging from covert CIA operations to supporting efforts to overthrow Maduro. These deliberations follow more than six months of maritime strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking in Caribbean routes.
Venezuela has responded by placing its armed forces on high alert and investing in air-defense capabilities. Sun notes the country has imported radar systems and S-300 surface-to-air missiles from Russia, boosting its overall deterrence potential. Economically, Caracas is also reducing over-reliance on oil by expanding agriculture, mining and infrastructure projects to increase self-sufficiency.
Pushback against U.S. moves is growing across the region. Ecuadorian voters overwhelmingly rejected a referendum to restore U.S. military bases, and in Bogotá, President Gustavo Petro suspended communications between Colombia’s security forces and U.S. agencies, insisting anti-drug efforts must respect Caribbean communities’ rights. Even close U.S. partners like the UK and the Netherlands have paused certain intelligence exchanges over concerns about politicized information fueling human-rights violations.
Sun warns that this revived Monroe Doctrine is reshaping Latin America’s security landscape, forcing governments to take sides and deepening regional divisions. With long memories of past interventions, many countries may comply publicly while moving further away from Washington in strategic outlook and sentiment.
As 2025 draws to a close, the durability of this U.S. approach and its impact on one of the world’s most volatile regions will be key trends to watch into 2026.
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U.S. actions near Venezuela signal revival of new Monroe Doctrine
cgtn.com
