A newly introduced congressional resolution could fundamentally reshape President Donald Trump’s aggressive approach to Latin America and the Caribbean, calling for the annulment of the Monroe Doctrine and proposing a sweeping “New Good Neighbor” policy in its place.
The resolution, submitted by Representative Nydia Velázquez, a Democrat from New York, and referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, directly challenges some of the Trump administration’s most controversial moves in the region, including the military operations in Venezuela, threats to the Panama Canal, and efforts to interfere in Brazil’s judicial system, among others.
Why It Matters
The resolution reflects growing congressional pushback against what Democrats describe as a return to 20th-century U.S. interventionism in the Western Hemisphere, as the Trump administration has intensified regional military actions and explicitly invoked the Monroe Doctrine to justify U.S. dominance across the hemisphere.
“The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but we’ve superseded it by a lot, by a real lot,” Trump said during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida, in the wake of the U.S.’s extensive operations against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in early January.
What To Know
The proposal, obtained by Newsweek, calls on the State Department to formally declare that the Monroe Doctrine is no longer a guiding principle of U.S. foreign policy. In its place, it outlines a “New Good Neighbor” approach centered on non-interference, respect for national sovereignty, and equitable economic cooperation across the Western Hemisphere.
It takes aim at several aspects of President Trump’s approach to Latin America, including unilateral economic sanctions, military intervention, claims over Venezuelan oil reserves, what it describes as interference in the judicial systems of Brazil and Colombia, and the pardon of convicted drug trafficker and former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.
The proposal also cites the deportation of hundreds of people to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, an action critics have described as illegal, as well as a campaign of extrajudicial killings targeting alleged drug traffickers in Caribbean waters.
“This administration’s aggressive stance toward Latin America makes this resolution critical,” Velázquez, who is of Puerto Rican descent, told Newsweek. “Their so-called ‘Donroe Doctrine’ is simply a more grotesque version of the interventionist policies that have failed for two centuries.”
In addition to criticizing current policy, the measure lays out concrete steps for reform. It calls on the United States to end all unilateral economic sanctions, including the decades-long embargo on Cuba, which the proposal says has resulted in tens of billions of dollars in economic losses. It would further require the declassification of U.S. government records related to past coups, dictatorships, and human rights abuses in the region.
“For more than 200 years, the United States has used the Monroe Doctrine to justify a paternalistic and damaging approach to Latin America and the Caribbean,” Representative Delia Ramírez said, one of the co-sponsors of the resolution. “The legacy has been political instability, poverty, forced migration, and colonialism. It is long past time to change course.”
The proposal would also expand congressional oversight of sanctions imposed by executive order, particularly the administration’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to bypass traditional approval processes.
Beyond sanctions and transparency, the measure supports reforms to international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, aiming to give Latin American countries greater influence over lending decisions. It also proposes restructuring the Organization of American States to curb the power of the secretary general’s office and strengthen accountability for senior officials.
Apart from Velazquez and Ramirez, The resolution is co-sponsored by Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Summer Lee (D-PA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Greg Casar (D-TX), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Sylvia García (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Lateefah Simon (D-CA).
What People Are Saying
Representative Nydia Velázquez, a Democrat from New York, said in a statement shared with Newsweek: “The United States and Latin America face shared challenges in drug trafficking, migration, and climate change. We can only solve these through real partnership, not coercion. We need to finally leave the Monroe Doctrine behind and pursue a foreign policy grounded in mutual respect and shared prosperity.”
Representative Delia Ramírez, an Illinois Democrat, said in a statement shared to Newsweek: “We must recognize our interconnectedness and admit that the Monroe Doctrine undermines the partnership needed to confront the complex challenges of this century. We must become better neighbors. That is why I am proud to join Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez to develop an approach to foreign policy that advances our collective interests and builds a stronger coalition throughout the Americas and the rest of the world.”
Michael Galant, Senior Policy Associate at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a progressive think-tank, told Newsweek: “The events of the past several months vividly illustrate why this resolution is so sorely needed. From extrajudicial killings in open waters, to the illegal bombing of Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro, to the illegal collective punishment of the Cuban people, and the many threats against other countries in the region, the Trump administration has assumed a belligerent and lawless posture toward the rest of the hemisphere. We must build a new relationship that respects national sovereignty and treats other countries as equals, rather than as either vassals or enemies.”
President Donald Trump said during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, following U.S. operations against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on January 3: “The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but we’ve superseded it by a lot, by a real lot. They now call it the ‘Donroe Doctrine.’ We sort of forgot about it. It was very important, but we forgot about it. We don’t forget about it anymore. American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.”
What Happens Next
The resolution, which follows previous efforts to move beyond the Monroe Doctrine, will be referred to the relevant House committee, most likely Foreign Affairs, where it can be debated, amended, or stalled.