WASHINGTON (Realist English). The United States has entered the new year by unveiling what critics describe as the “Donroe Doctrine” — President Donald Trump’s reworking of the 1823 Monroe Doctrine — amid a surge of US military, economic and political pressure on energy-producing states across multiple regions.
The term gained traction following US air strikes on Venezuela and the detention of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on 3 January. While the doctrine formally asserts US primacy in the Western Hemisphere, analysts argue that its practical scope is global, echoing interventionist patterns that have shaped US foreign policy since the end of World War Two.
Over the past month alone, Washington has taken or threatened military action affecting oil-producing countries in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and the Arctic. In December and January, US forces struck targets in Syria, where more than 2,000 American troops remain deployed in oil-producing regions. The Pentagon said the strikes targeted Islamic State militants following the killing of two US soldiers and an interpreter.
In Africa, Trump ordered air strikes in Nigeria after repeatedly warning of mass killings of Christians by jihadist groups, framing the attacks as protective measures. He has since threatened further action if violence continues. In Asia, the administration has openly encouraged anti-government protests in Iran, with Trump urging demonstrators to “keep protesting” and saying “help is on the way” as unrest intensified amid a deep economic crisis.
Iranian officials report hundreds of deaths, while other estimates suggest casualties may run into the thousands, including protesters and security personnel. Israeli officials have confirmed the presence of intelligence operatives in Iran, while former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo publicly alluded to cooperation between Iranian protesters and Israeli intelligence — claims that Tehran cites as evidence of foreign involvement.
On Tuesday, Trump escalated pressure on Tehran by cancelling talks, announcing 25% tariffs on countries trading with Iran and threatening “very strong” military action over the government’s handling of protests. The White House has linked these measures to human rights concerns, while critics say they reflect broader strategic aims tied to energy security.
Oil has emerged as a central thread in the administration’s actions. Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has been singled out by Trump, who has said the US will now “run” the country following Maduro’s detention. US officials have also floated the use of force against Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory with significant untapped energy resources. A Republican lawmaker has introduced legislation backing US annexation of the island, citing national security concerns.
Energy analysts note that Washington’s strategy appears aimed at maintaining influence over oil prices, ensuring the dollar’s dominance in energy trade and constraining rivals — particularly China — by shaping access to global energy supplies.
The approach mirrors Cold War-era precedents. After World War Two, the US backed a series of coups linked to energy interests, including the 1949 overthrow of Syria’s elected government following its refusal to approve a major oil pipeline, and the 1953 CIA- and MI6-backed coup in Iran that removed Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh after he nationalised the oil industry.
More recent interventions — from Libya in 2011 to Syria, Venezuela and now renewed pressure on Iran — are seen by critics as part of the same pattern, albeit under shifting justifications ranging from counterterrorism and democracy promotion to drug trafficking and human rights.
US officials reject accusations of imperial overreach, arguing that current actions are necessary to protect allies, secure energy markets and uphold international stability. Yet as tensions rise across several regions simultaneously, observers say the practical reach of the so-called “Donroe Doctrine” may soon become clearer — and potentially more consequential — in the weeks ahead.
