US President-elect Donald Trump is signaling a significant shift in Washington’s posture towards its backyard, reasserting US interests in the Western Hemisphere after decades of passivity.
Trump’s flurry of transition pronouncements has made it clear that he plans to revitalize US engagement in the region, countering China’s growing influence and addressing security concerns. The US has been largely absent from regional affairs since the 1990s, allowing China to fill the void with Belt and Road Initiative investments and expanding its economic and military presence.
The Western Hemisphere is no longer a backwater, but a critical front in great-power conflict. China’s trade with Latin America has expanded 35-fold since 2000, and it is now the largest export and import destination for many countries. Russia remains interested in Cold War-era gamesmanship, backing authoritarian regimes in Cuba and Venezuela, while Iran and its Hezbollah proxies pose real threats across the region.
Trump’s hemispheric defense policy could be a lasting legacy, reasserting US historic leadership in the region and countering China’s coercive economic and political leverage. The US must prioritize regional security and economic interests, promoting secure blocs and addressing transnational threats. With Trump’s shift in focus, Washington is finally waking up to the challenges facing its hemisphere, and the question remains whether change will come at the negotiating table or on the battlefield.
Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/13/trump-greenland-panama-canada-monroe-doctrine-geopolitics-western-hemisphere