Heine on Trump Administration’s Attempt to Reboot the Monroe Doctrine
Research Professor Jorge Heine was recently quoted in a Christian Science Monitor news report, titled “As China’s influence grows in the Americas, Trump hints at a Monroe Doctrine 2.0.” The piece elaborated on how the current administration wants to revive President James Monroe’s prominent foreign policy to claim Central and South America as its exclusive turf. Heine further unpacked the reasons behind China’s exponential growth in Latin America which complicate the United States endeavor for total control over the region.
“To a considerable degree, the resurgence of the Monroe Doctrine is related to a perceived need to do something about the Chinese presence in the region,” said Heine. “But I must break the news to Mr. Trump and his administration: That horse is already out of the barn.”
Since the early aughts, the United States and the European Union have been key trading partners of Latin America. However, this is no longer the case. China has now surpassed the two western powers to become Latin America’s number one trading partner. Additionally, China has made its presence in countries like Peru palpable by investing in major infrastructure projects like the megaport in Chancay, which is touted to transform the idyllic beach town into the “Shanghai of South America.”
“Peru now exports more to China than to the EU and the U.S. combined,” Heine said. “About a quarter of all agricultural imports to China come from South America’s southern cone alone. Is the U.S. going to replace that?”
Another issue that hangs over Latin America is the low rate of infrastructure. Heine observed that this has compelled several leaders of the region to commit to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Such large-scale collaboration might be concerning for certain Washington officials but the professor astutely argued that American and European companies typically don’t undertake infrastructure projects required for the development of Latin America.
Professor Heine’s complete remarks can be accessed here.
Jorge Heine is a research professor at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies. A diplomat, international relations scholar, and lawyer, he served as an ambassador of Chile to China, India, and South Africa. Heine has written over fifteen books, including The Non-Aligned World: Striking Out in an Era of Great Power Competition (2025) that provides insights on how the Global South can navigate the changing diplomacy landscape amid the U.S.-China rivalry.