Analysis: The Caracas Operation and the Monroe Doctrine

The United States' operation in Venezuela is a modern version of the Monroe Doctrine, which since 1823 has defined Latin America as a zone of vital U.S. interests.

The removal of Nicolás Maduro is not simply an "addressing of an authoritarian leader" but the implementation of the logic that Washington retains the right to intervene in the Western Hemisphere.

Since the early 20th century, the U.S. has declared itself the guardian of "order" in Latin America. During the Cold War, this doctrine was used to contain communism, while after 1991, it was used to promote democracy and human rights.

Today, Venezuela, with its energy reserves and geopolitical value, has become a hub of competition with Beijing. The operation in Caracas sends the message that the American "near abroad" is non-negotiable.

The Monroe Doctrine, born in 1823, evolved from a defensive declaration into an instrument of enforcement. In the 19th century, Britain was the silent guarantor of the doctrine, while later the U.S. declared itself the protector of the continent and the guardian of internal order.

During the Cold War, Latin America became a zone for containing communism, with coups and covert operations being dubbed "stability". American interventions are rarely neutral and often create new instabilities.

Sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and economic pressure are followed by faits accomplis, such as the arrest of a sitting head of state, which constitutes a break with the rhetoric of a "rules-based order".