Nydia M. Velazquez, democratic congresswoman representing New York
This December will mark 200 years of the Monroe Doctrine, one of our nation’s oldest and foundational foreign policies. As we approach two centuries of the doctrine, it’s time the United States leaves behind this antiquated policy in favor of something more modern and effective.
In 1823, President James Monroe declared that the American continents would not be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers. Thus began a legacy of American dominance over Latin America. Over the next 100 years, this foreign policy philosophy justified interventions, annexations, and other colonial actions across the Western Hemisphere, including in my homeland of Puerto Rico.
As the U.S. sought to limit the rise of communism and socialism during the Cold War era, our government invoked the Monroe Doctrine to support coups, fund military repression and death squads, and prop up brutal dictatorships. […]
During my trip to South America, I met with many policymakers and activists eager to turn the page on years of failed U.S. policies in Latin America and build a collaborative relationship that treats countries as equals and helps address the shared challenges we face. […]
As leading Republican presidential candidates call for the invasion of Mexico and a revitalized Monroe Doctrine for the 21st century, it’s incumbent on Democratic policymakers to show that a more forward-looking Latin American foreign policy can be effective. In shifting its drug war strategy, the Colombian government has already created a radically new approach to failed policies. It’s time for the United States to join them in this effort. Läs artikel
