A New Monroe Doctrine: The U.S. is rolling out influence programs across Latin America regardless of how talks with China go

On October 23, 2025, during a conference at the White House, Donald Trump stated that Washington will continue to use force against drug cartels in the Caribbean Basin and announced strikes on the land territory of Latin American states.

These statements were accompanied by the redeployment of troops to the region. On October 24, 2025, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth reported the deployment of the largest US Navy strike carrier group, the Gerald R. Ford, in the waters of Latin America.

On October 26, the American guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely arrived in Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago, which is located approximately 25 miles from Venezuela.