Donroe Doctrine working in Venezuela

OPINION:

Venezuela was one of the most prosperous countries in Latin America until socialism, cartels and corruption destroyed it. Today, thanks to President Trump’s unapologetic “America First” foreign policy, the tide is finally turning.

The recent arrest and indictment of Nicolas Maduro marks a decisive victory for U.S. national security and the Venezuelan people who suffered under his tyrannical rule. It is also proof that Mr. Trump’s newly articulated Donroe Doctrine works.

As we enter 2026 with Mr. Trump back at the helm, America’s foreign policy is once again guided by strength, clarity and an unwavering commitment to our national interests. Under previous administrations, hostile regimes in our own hemisphere were allowed to fester, exporting drugs, violence and instability straight to America’s doorstep.

Mr. Trump put an end to that weakness. America once again treats our neighbors as they treat us and puts the safety and security of Americans first. That’s the Donroe Doctrine in action.

The Donroe Doctrine has been long in the making. Mr. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio understand the national security threat posed by Mr. Maduro and the immense suffering endured by the Venezuelan people.

As a senior adviser to Mr. Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns involved in Hispanic outreach, I witnessed firsthand the president talking to and hearing from exiles who fled the horrors of communism in countries such as Venezuela and Cuba. Many of them found the American dream through hard work and grit in communities such as Doral, Florida.

That experience shaped this administration’s worldview. In the Trump administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy, our hemisphere is once again treated as a core strategic priority. The Donroe Doctrine isn’t about isolationism or imperialism but rather peace through strength. It’s about asserting leadership so our neighbors are good neighbors.

For too long, Mr. Maduro’s Castro-Chavismo regime, built on the hollow promises of socialism turned into full-blown authoritarianism, transformed Venezuela from an economic powerhouse into a humanitarian catastrophe. More than 8 million Venezuelans fled repression, poverty and violence, straining neighboring countries and even reaching our southern border. It wasn’t just Venezuela’s problem. It became America’s problem as well.

Mr. Trump refused to let that rot spread. Through calculated economic pressure, regional coordination and decisive action against narco-terrorist networks, the administration dismantled one of the most dangerous hubs of criminal activity in the Western Hemisphere. Mr. Maduro’s regime was deeply intertwined with drug cartels, terrorist financiers and America’s adversaries in Iran, Russia and China. His removal makes Americans safer.

Across Venezuela and throughout the region, people are celebrating. With Mr. Maduro gone, a new chapter can begin — one focused on stability, economic recovery and partnership with the U.S. This is how peace is restored.

Further, oil is one of the many reasons a free Venezuela matters to Americans. Why should Venezuela trade with adversaries such as China, Russia and Iran when it can partner with the United States? Mr. Trump understands this. It’s why his administration is ensuring Venezuelan oil revenue is directed toward purchasing American-made goods and why sanctioned vessels from hostile regimes are kept out of our hemisphere.

This pro-America approach strengthens U.S. jobs, bolsters energy security and pushes out malign foreign influence from our neighborhood.

Critics on the left call this “interventionism.” They are wrong. “America First” does not mean America alone. The Trump administration is working closely with allies such as Argentina under President Javier Milei, Ecuador under President Daniel Noboa and Guyana’s leadership to support regional stability. State Department leaders such as Deputy Secretary Chris Landau bring cultural fluency and deep regional expertise to the table, something sorely lacking in past administrations.

Predictably, Democrats are already flip-flopping. Sen. Christopher Murphy, Connecticut Democrat, once declared, “Maduro must go.” Now he objects to holding him accountable. Senate Democrats who previously attacked Mr. Trump for not doing enough are suddenly outraged that he did exactly what was required. This hypocrisy reveals the difference between tough talk and real leadership.

A political transition in Venezuela remains the goal, and Mr. Trump will never compromise America’s safety and security to achieve that. Accountability comes first. Strong borders, secure neighborhoods and responsible neighbors make for a safer hemisphere.

The Donroe Doctrine is simple: Protect America’s interests, demand good behavior in our region, and enforce peace through strength. Mr. Trump should stay the course. By doing so, we’re not just making America great again; we’re helping make Venezuela and the entire Western Hemisphere greater as well.

• John Pence is the CEO of Frontline Government Relations.