In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**:
**Hemisphere**
**Deep Dive**
**Monroe Doctrine**
**Revived**
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### What’s in the News
1. **What “hemisphere” means in geopolitics**
- Divides world into spheres of influence – Western Hemisphere (Americas) long seen as US domain.
- Eastern Hemisphere (Europe/Asia/Africa) contested by powers like Russia/China.
- For normies: Like neighborhoods – US says “our block, our rules” for Americas.
2. **Historical roots – colonial era to Monroe Doctrine**
- 1823: President James Monroe declares Americas off-limits to European colonization/recolonization.
- US pledges non-interference in Europe – mutual spheres for stability.
- Quote from original: “The American continents... are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.”
3. **Evolution – Roosevelt Corollary and interventions**
- 1904: Theodore Roosevelt adds “international police power” – US can intervene in Latin America to stabilize.
- Justified invasions (e.g., Panama 1903 canal, multiple Caribbean occupations).
- Turned doctrine from defensive to offensive – “big stick” diplomacy.
4. **Cold War era – countering Soviet influence**
- Used to block communism in hemisphere (Cuba Missile Crisis 1962 blockade).
- Interventions: Guatemala 1954 coup, Dominican Republic 1965, Grenada 1983.
- Rio Treaty (1947) and OAS formalized collective defense against external threats.
5. **Post-Cold War – selective use**
- Panama 1989 Noriega capture – drug threats as justification.
- Critics call it imperialism – US meddles while barring rivals.
- Dormant until recent revival.
6. **Trump’s 2025 revival – “Trump Corollary”**
- 2025 NSS: “Assert and enforce a Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine” – block Russia/China footholds.
- Venezuela raid (Jan 3, 2026) as enforcement – Maduro captured, US “runs” transition/oil.
- Trump (Jan 3 presser): “All the way back to the Monroe Doctrines... They now call it the Donroe document.”
7. **Mike Waltz at UN – defends as law enforcement**
- Waltz (Jan 5 UNSC): “This was a law enforcement operation... You can’t turn Venezuela into hub for Iran/Hezbollah/gangs/Cuban agents.”
- “Tremendous control/leverage over interim authorities.”
- [Throw to footage: UNSC Waltz remarks clip]
8. **John Mearsheimer on Judge Napolitano – realist critique**
- Mearsheimer (Dec 18, 2025 Judging Freedom): “Administration boxed itself in... overestimates military force in political problems.”
- Compares to Yemen failure; Venezuela self-inflicted crisis for face-saving.
- [Throw to footage: Mearsheimer/Napolitano clip on Venezuela]
9. **Stephen Miller on CNN – power governs world**
- Miller (Jan 5 CNN): “We live in a world governed by strength, force, power... iron laws since beginning of time.”
- “Superpower conducts as superpower... absurd to allow adversaries resources in our backyard.”
- [Throw to footage: Miller/Tapper CNN clip]
10. **Marco Rubio on Meet the Press – threefold process**
- Rubio (Jan 4 MTP): “Threefold: Stabilize, recover with US companies, transition to Venezuelan people.”
- “Tremendous control/leverage over interim authorities.”
- [Throw to footage: Rubio/Welker MTP clip]
11. **European reactions – muted criticism**
- Starmer (Jan 6): “Not involved” – seeks facts, stresses law (no condemnation).
- Von der Leyen/EU (Jan 5): “Concern” but avoids illegality.
- France objects as sovereignty violation – but no strong measures.
12. **Speculation (labeled as such)**
- If US pushes “Donroe” further (Cuba/Mexico warnings), risks regional backlash or rival responses.
- Europe ditching bases? No confirmation – just chatter.
- Hemisphere lines harden into new blocs.
13. **Wrap-up perspective – Monroe Doctrine in modern context**
- Ties 200-year history to today’s Venezuela raid – from defensive warning to offensive tool.
- Shows how old doctrines get revived in multipolar rivalries – US asserts dominance while rivals push back.
- Highlights hypocrisy: US demands hemisphere exclusivity but interferes elsewhere.
- For normies: Doctrine started as “stay out,” now “we come in if needed.”
- [Throw to footage: “The Monroe Doctrine Explained” wrap-up clip –
OK team, so what does all this mean? Well, it means hemisphere politics – from Monroe to Trump – is back with a vengeance, exposing great power hypocrisy and risking multipolar clashes.
1. If US grabs Venezuela under Monroe, what’s stopping China from claiming Asia as its hemisphere – full steam ahead?
2. European leaders silent on US raid but loud on Russia – is “rules-based order” just code for Western privilege?
3. 200 years of Monroe – is this the doctrine’s final act, or the spark for a new global spheres war?
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