US Progressives Convene in Uruguay to Counter Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine'

Led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the delegation includes Rep. Jesús García and several congressional candidates who aim to challenge the "Donroe Doctrine," a term critics use to describe a series of interventionist tactics ranging from economic sanctions to military force. The group is demanding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio justify these actions, which they argue destabilize the region and undermine democratic sovereignty. Sen. Bernie Sanders is scheduled to address the forum remotely, reinforcing the delegation's call for a foreign policy rooted in mutual respect rather than hegemony.

The Shift in Regional Relations

The congress comes as tensions escalate following reports of US military deployments in Ecuador and threats against nations including Cuba, Venezuela, and Colombia. The delegation's stance is supported by figures like former Colombian President Ernesto Samper, who warns that the current trend toward right-wing radicalization in the Americas mirrors a rise in neofascism. In response, some lawmakers have introduced the New Good Neighbor Act, a legislative effort seeking to revive the noninterventionist spirit of 1930s-era diplomacy. Historians note that the US has historically utilized the Monroe Doctrine to justify dozens of regime-change interventions, a legacy the current delegation is attempting to dismantle by fostering a new era of cross-border progressive cooperation.