Episode 116: Is the Trump Administration's 'Donroe' Doctrine Transforming Relations with Latin America?
Following Washington's emphasis on the Western Hemisphere in its 2025 National Security Strategy, this episode examines Cuba, Venezuela and the intensifying US-China competition in Latin America.
About the episode
In this episode, Neil Melvin is joined by Dr Brian Fonseca, Director of the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy at Florida International University, and Dr Carlos Solar, Senior Research Fellow for Latin American Security at RUSI, to assess how the Trump administration’s 'America First' strategy is reshaping security and geopolitics across the Americas, and what the shift means for regional stability and US global priorities.
This discussion explores:
- The elevation of the Western Hemisphere to the top tier of US national security priorities.
- Cuba’s re-emergence as a strategic concern, including energy pressure, migration controls and intelligence considerations.
- Venezuela’s uncertain transition following US intervention and the risks of proxy competition.
- The expansion of bilateral security agreements and US military deployments in the Caribbean basin.
- The implications of this hemispheric focus for US alliances and global commitments.
- Whether Latin America is becoming an arena for US-China strategic rivalry.
FEATURING
Dr Neil Melvin
Director, International Security
International Security
Dr Carlos Solar
Senior Research Fellow, Latin American Security
International Security
