The Guardian view on the new Monroe doctrine: Trump’s forceful approach to the western hemisphere comes at a cost | Editorial

‘Mr Trump appears unperturbed by stronger Chinese and Russian spheres of influence.’ uri Gripas/EPA‘Mr Trump appears unperturbed by stronger Chinese and Russian spheres of influence.’ uri Gripas/EPAThe Guardian view on the new Monroe doctrine: Trump’s forceful approach to the western hemisphere comes at a costEditorialOver the holiday period, the Guardian leader column is looking ahead at the themes of 2026. Today, how US foreign policy has dramatically – and alarmingly – turned towards Latin America and the CaribbeanDonald Trump is not generally noted as a student of history. Yet over the past year, his decisive reorientation of US foreign policy towards the Americas has revived a playbook dating back two centuries, to the fifth president, James Monroe.