The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Dwight Swisher
The announcement of the Donroe Doctrine sounds uncomfortably familiar in current times. I remember Vladimir Putin reviving this model of super-power dominance from some years back. Putin has actively sought to revive and assert a sphere-of-influence doctrine for Russia, a goal that has guided his foreign policy for 17 years now. This can be seen as the primary driver behind his 2022 invasion of Ukraine. It is evident in the ways Russia advocates for a world where great powers like Russia, China, and the U.S. have designated spheres of dominance, rather than a rules-based international order with universal sovereignty.
Putin publicly signaled Russia's rejection of the post-Cold War international order and his intention to expand its influence to counter the West in 2007 in a speech in Munich. He then took action in 2008 with the Russo-Georgian war, which was interpreted by many Western leaders as an attempt to enforce a sphere of influence and a violation of international law.
A second major play was the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent conflict in eastern Ukraine, where both were clear demonstrations of Putin's intent to keep neighboring countries within Russia's sway and out of Western alliances.
Before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in 2021, Russia issued draft treaties demanding that NATO roll back its expansion and cease military cooperation with post-Soviet states, effectively demanding a formal Russian sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. Finally in 2022 he began the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This action is the most significant and overt attempt by Putin to militarily enforce a sphere of influence, aiming to prevent Ukraine from integrating with the West and to re-establish Russian imperial control over what he views as historical Russian lands.
Given this attempt by Putin and Russia to break NATO, the UN and reshape the world order, how is it that Donald Trump has decided that the United States should adopt the same stance, ending the laws established with the UN charter that have kept the peace since the end of WWII? All one has to do is look at how this action by the US will benefit Russia, and it seems inescapable to me that the Donroe Doctrine is just one more gift from Donald Trump to his favorite dictator, Vladimir Putin.
When the United States becomes an imperialistic, lawless predator using the inane justification that “might makes right”, Putin can say “look, they are just like us.” This type of global politics led to a “world war”; and it may well do so again. It certainly supports Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and encourages China to invade Taiwan.
The truth is we are not like Russia (yet). We had learned that “might makes right” only leads to ruin for everyone. We stopped being an imperialistic nation because we learned that building allied nations and trade through negotiated agreements was the best way to have peace and prosperity.
We the people don’t have to allow this administration to behave this way, and it’s our responsibility to stop it through all available peaceful means. In the end, it is we who are responsible for what American does and what America becomes. A peaceful partner in a prosperous world, or a pariah nation using gangster tactics to extort our neighbors. The time is right now to make your decision and take your pick.
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