Venezuela Commemorates Bicentenary of Monroe Doctrine with a Voice of Resistance
The Venezuelan government, led by President Nicolás Maduro, is preparing to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine, an occasion characterized by Maduro as a "dark, diabolical, and perverse bicentenary that has left bloodshed"
Photo: X/NicolasMaduro
The Latin American Post Staff
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Leer en español: Venezuela conmemora bicentenario de la Doctrina Monroe con voz de resistencia
The Monroe Doctrine and Its Impact on Latin America
The Monroe Doctrine, a policy articulated by former U.S. President James Monroe in 1823, aimed to guide American relations with Latin America, asserting the United States' commitment to protect the sovereignty of newly independent Latin American nations and prevent European colonial powers from interfering in the region.
However, President Maduro, speaking during an event with the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), broadcast on the state-owned VTV channel, interpreted the doctrine as a means for the "southern Americans" to be "subordinated" to the United States.
Maduro contended that the Monroe Doctrine played a role in the 1899 Paris Arbitration. This controversial decision favored Guyana in the dispute with Venezuela over the territory nearly 160,000 square kilometers west of the Esequibo River.
Accusations Against the Monroe Doctrine
"It was with the Monroe Doctrine that they executed the plan to cut off a piece of Venezuela, attempting to take away our Esequibo, and it is with the Monroe Doctrine that they seek to continue their vassalage and plunder," Maduro stated.
Furthermore, President Maduro announced that on December 3, the Venezuelan people would have the opportunity to exercise their "historical justice" and express their "sovereignty" through a referendum on the territorial dispute, an initiative vehemently rejected by Guyana. The referendum includes proposals such as annexing the disputed territory to the national map by creating a state named Guayana Esequiba.
Also read: Venezuela's Call to Unite Through Referendum Over Esequibo Dispute
As Venezuela prepares to mark this contentious bicentenary, it does so with a voice of resistance and condemnation, emphasizing its determination to assert its sovereignty and challenge the legacy of the Monroe Doctrine that has shaped its regional relations for two centuries.
