Donald Trump’s ‘Donroe Doctrine’ isn’t clever - it’s dangerous | Opinion
The New York Post dubbed it the “Donroe Doctrine” — Donald Trump’s threat to use economic pressure to make Canada the 51st state, to buy Greenland or failing that simply to take it, and to invade Panama retake the American-built Panama Canal from the Chinese. Trump liked that so much he sent the new York Post’s front page to his 8 million followers on Truth Social Wednesday.
The Post’s wordplay, based on the 1823 Monroe Doctrine laying out American foreign policy principles excluding Europeans from expanding their role in the Americas, fails to note that Trump’s loose words turn the Monroe Doctrine’s most lasting idea on its head.
James Monroe wanted to keep foreigners from interfering in the domestic affairs of our American neighbors. Now it is Trump doing the interfering in the affairs of our friends. Instead of targeting an “axis of evil” countries that threaten us, he’s targeting an axis of amity that’s intent on trading with us.
Some Trump backers note that the president-elect is all talk. Nobody thinks he’s lining up the Caribbean 4th Fleet to take on Panama. He’s just opening negotiations with Panama over transit fees paid by American shippers and with Canada over our trade deficit. As for Greenland — maybe he does want to buy a land of melting glaciers.
Starting negotiations with bold talk is a standard ploy, but when talking things over with neighbors, you don’t come packing heat, at least not if you want to maintain friendly relations with the family next door.
Trump’s belligerent stance toward democratic neighbor nations contrasts with his friendly approach to dictators who mean America harm and who actively undermine our interests across the globe. He wants negotiations with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, China’s leaders are his friends whom he respects, and he exchanges friendly letters with the murderous thug who runs North Korea.
Joe Biden’s autopilot presidency — and the disastrous retreat from Afghanistan — has put America and the democratic world in a dangerous position.
- Russia is gaining ground in Ukraine and bringing in foreign troops from North Korea and elsewhere to bolster Vladimir Putin’s offensive. The Atlantic Council alleges that Russia is using Houthi mercenaries from Yemen and recruiting aspiring Central Asian migrants to bolster its flagging forces beyond its North Korea recruits.
- Our friend South Korea, a key hub for U.S. defensive forces in Asia, is in political turmoil while China has been increasing its threatening military moves toward Taiwan. Only three months ago, China sent 125 warplanes into Taiwan’s airspace in a clear threat to the island democracy.
- Iran — stung by defeat in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza — is on the cusp of building a nuclear weapon, a threat to all our allies in the Middle East, most particularly Israel. Biden will leave office with plans in place to strike the Shiite theocracy if it takes final steps toward assembling a bomb.
In Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the world is closer to open regional conflict than at any time since the Cold War. Indeed, the shooting is well underway in Europe and the Middle East, and the only question is whether the world’s democracies can keep it from spreading further.
Trump’s provocation of NATO allies Canada and Denmark (which administers Greenland) and threats to Panama stirs up troubles where we cannot afford them and undermines the unity of democracies in facing the real axis of evil — China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.
This isn’t smart negotiating. Now is not the time to provoke fights among our friends. Even worse, now is not the time to tie down the American military in pointless imperialism intended to Make America Greater Again.
In the days before he steps into office after taking an oath to the U.S. Constitution, Trump should consider the dangerous world he is inheriting. Now is not a time to make trouble when the world already has more than enough.
This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 2:18 PM with the headline "Donald Trump’s ‘Donroe Doctrine’ isn’t clever - it’s dangerous | Opinion."
