Fresh off the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, the Trump administration is reportedly considering expanding its hardline Latin America policy to target another long-standing adversary: Nicaragua’s authoritarian leader Daniel Ortega. But with Democrats now controlling Congress, the push for military action faces political headwinds despite what hawks call a strategic imperative.
The ‘Donroe Doctrine’ Takes Shape
Dubbed the ‘Donroe Doctrine’ – a play on Trump’s first name and the historic Monroe Doctrine – the administration’s strategy seeks to reassert U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere by confronting hostile regimes. The approach gained momentum after January’s Operation Absolute Resolve, which saw U.S. forces extract Maduro from Venezuela in a lightning raid. Now, Nicaragua’s socialist government, deep ties to drug cartels, and alliances with Russia and China have put it in Washington’s crosshairs.
Three Justifications for Intervention
Advocates for action cite Nicaragua’s role as a socialist holdout, its pivotal position in the cocaine trade, and its partnerships with U.S. adversaries. Since returning to power in 2007, Ortega has jailed opponents, seized private assets, and this year abolished elections outright. His coordination with Cuba and Venezuela has bolstered the anti-American Bolivarian movement even as socialism gains traction domestically through groups like the Democratic Socialists of America.
Geographically, Nicaragua serves as a key transit point for South American cocaine headed to U.S. markets, fueling both addiction and cartel violence. The Trump administration has prioritized combating narco-terrorism, with the president declaring it a national security threat early in his second term.
Perhaps most alarmingly to strategists, Managua has deepened military cooperation with Russia while welcoming Chinese investment after severing ties with Taiwan. A 2025 National Security Strategy paper warned of rivals gaining footholds near U.S. borders, making Nicaragua’s alliances a red flag.
The Political Minefield
With Democrats controlling both legislative chambers after the midterms, any move toward military action would face intense scrutiny. Critics will likely invoke Iraq and Afghanistan as cautionary tales, though proponents argue the Venezuela operation proved targeted interventions can succeed without protracted occupation.
For Trump, foreign policy may offer a legacy-shaping opportunity as domestic agendas stall. But whether Nicaragua becomes the next front in his doctrine – or a bridge too far for a war-weary Congress – remains to be seen.
Source: www.americanthinker.com — https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/11/the-donroe-doctrine-and-the-ortega-regime/