201 years of the Monroe Doctrine and its regrettable validity

Published at: 02/12/2024 02:04 PM

The history of Latin American countries has always been marked by a constant struggle between the consolidation of their independence, autonomy and sovereign rights to free self-determination and the ambitions of imperialist powers to plunder them.

In this context, the Monroe Doctrine, proclaimed in December 1823, was presented as a new double-edged sword of American foreign policy, a symbol of its expansionist ambitions and a tool that was initially designed to protect the continent's independence, but which over time became the foreign policy of the Garrote or The Big Stick.

Simon Bolivar, received the news about the enactment of this U.S. foreign policy doctrine with great caution. Already in June 1817, following the confiscation of the American merchant schooners Tigre and Libertad on the Orinoco River, both full of weapons, ammunition and equipment for the Spanish armies, he wrote a forceful letter to the emissary of the American government, J.B. Irving response warning about the hostile nature and the warlike nature of that country against the nascent Republic of Gran Colombia.

Later, on August 5, 1828 , El Libertador Simón Bolívar was the first to warn, prophetically, of the dangers and threats that the United States would pose to the nations of Latin America and the world when he exclaimed: “The United States seems destined by Providence to plague America with misery in the name of freedom”.

This is a clear testimony of his distrust of the true intentions of the American government . Bolívar understood that the struggle for independence did not end with the defeat of the European powers; the new challenge would be to resist the advance of the nascent imperialism of the United States.

The parallels today are represented by sanctions, the blockade, the siege of hunger, interference in internal affairs and the constant threat of direct or mercenary military intervention.

From the perspective of the Bolivarian Doctrine of Hugo Chávez, the comparison between the Monro Doctrine and the Bolivarian vision of sovereignty and the current sanctions against Venezuela show the historical continuity of Yankee imperialist aggression, the continuous resistance of the Peoples in defense of their territorial integrity, their cultural identity and the dignity of those who make it up.

The Monroe Doctrine: A Mask of Domination

The Monroe Doctrine , under the slogan “America for Americans”, was presented as an anti-colonial statement that rejected the interference of European monarchies in the affairs of the continent. However, this supposed defense of American autonomy quickly transformed into a policy of expansion, surveillance, control and punishment by the United States. Instead of promoting the sovereignty of Peoples, it became a tool to consolidate their hegemony over the Western American hemisphere, leaving other nations relegated to the role of green areas in the imperial garden.

Nowadays, the aggression against Venezuela, under the guise of “defense of democracy” or “protection of human rights”, is nothing more than a continuation of the Monroe Doctrine adapted to the 21st century. The economic sanctions, promoted by the United States and its allies, represent an act of economic war whose objective is to subdue the Venezuelan people, destabilize their government and take control of their strategic resources, particularly oil, gold, coltan, water and forest resources.

These unilateral coercive measures, which violate the principles of international law and the self-determination of peoples, have caused serious consequences in the Venezuelan economy, especially affecting the most vulnerable sectors. However, instead of destroying the Bolivarian Revolution , they have strengthened Venezuelan resistance, just as Bolivar dreamed of when he fought against the Spanish Empire and the European Triple Alliance.

The Bolivarian response to unilateral and coercive measures is summarized in Hugo Chávez's last great message , on December 8, 2012: “Unity, Struggle, Battle and Victory”. In other words, the unwavering resolve to resist the imperialist blows together, with the unwavering certainty that the unstoppable forces of history will give us the great total victory. It is “the triumph of Freedom over despotism” as the title of Juan Germán Roscio's book states.

Since the arrival of Commander Hugo Chávez to power in 1999, the Bolivarian project has steadfastly confronted imperialist threats, promoting a policy of full sovereignty, regional integration and social justice. In this context, the sanctions and blockades imposed by the United States are nothing more than an attempt to punish a country that has decided to be free and sovereign.

Chavism has constantly invoked Bolívar's legacy as a symbol of anti-imperialist struggle. The popular civic-military fusion, the diversification of international alliances through organizations such as BRICKS, ALBA, CELAC, UNASUR and the strengthening of ties with emerging powers such as Russia, China, India, Iran, Vietnam and Turkey are modern Bolivarian strategies to counteract the isolationism to which they want to subject us.

The Monroe Doctrine and Imperialist Continuity

From the Chavista perspective, the Monroe Doctrine is still in force in the actions of the United States, which continues to use different forms of intervention to to subjugate the Peoples of Latin America. Soft coups, media manipulation, economic sanctions and attempts at diplomatic isolation are new tools to perpetuate the same logic of imperialist domination denounced by Bolívar two centuries ago.

Venezuela, as a bastion of anti-imperialist resistance in the region, has become a strategic target of imperialism. However, just as Bolívar fought against colonial forces in his time, the Venezuelan people are still fighting against modern aggressions today, defending their right to build their own social, economic and political model.

Conclusion: Bolívar Lives in Revolutionary Resistance

The comparison between the Mon Roe Doctrine, Simon Bolivar's warnings and the current sanctions against Venezuela show that the fight for sovereignty and self-determination remain as relevant today as it was in the 19th and 20th centuries.

From the Chavista perspective, the spirit of Bolívar lives in the resistance of the Venezuelan people, who, in the face of adversities imposed by imperialism, remain firm in the construction of a free, just and sovereign Homeland.

History teaches us that empires can attempt to subdue Peoples, but they can never extinguish their desire for freedom. Venezuela, with its Bolivarian Revolution, today embodies that spirit of resistance and reaffirms Bolivar's dream of a united, sovereign and independent Latin America.

Mazo News Team