While the confrontation with Iran and controversies over Israel have eroded U.S. President Donald Trump's approval ratings, his foreign policy in Latin America is seen as yielding certain results. Over the past year, a wave of right-wing leaders has won elections, and Trump has largely claimed personal credit, dubbing it the manifestation of the "Donroe Doctrine"—a play on the historic Monroe Doctrine.
In Colombia, far-right businessman Abelardo de la Espriella has just been sworn in. A former defense lawyer for paramilitary leaders, he has vowed to "gut" the left and backs fracking projects and environmentally harmful plans. The U.S. previously poured significant funds into Colombia's military, which has been accused of killing civilians.
In Argentina, Trump ally President Javier Milei performed well in October's midterm elections after Trump attached conditions to a $40 billion bailout package. Milei's welfare cuts are blamed for pushing millions of Argentines into poverty and increasing homelessness in Buenos Aires.
In Honduras, businessman Nasry Asfura became president in January after Trump threatened to cut aid if he lost. Asfura's "crackdown on crime" campaign is said to have only escalated violence in the Central American nation.
Chile also saw the victory of Jose Antonio Kast, an admirer of dictator Augusto Pinochet. One of his first moves was to inspect a border-trench digging campaign. Other leaders like Daniel Noboa (Ecuador), Nayib Bukele (El Salvador), and Keiko Fujimori (Peru) have pursued "tough-on-crime" strategies that critics say fail to address root causes.
Analysts argue these leaders favor governments serving the wealthy, pursue xenophobic policies, blame immigrants, and show little regard for basic rights. Focusing on threats like immigration and drugs is seen as a way to distract from economic and environmental issues.
A report from the U.S. Congress's Joint Economic Committee shows Trump earned $2.2 billion in 2025, a threefold increase, while American families lost $219 billion. Many describe the trend as the "Trumpification of Latin America" or the "orange wave." U.S. cooperation with violent governments in the region is nothing new.
The newly risen right-wing leaders all back a militarized "security" approach, and Colombia's Medellin will host Trump's "Shield of the Americas" security initiative. The article argues this is unlikely to make "Western civilization" more civilized.
