A pattern across history: What happens to every Latin American country after U.S. intervention

From the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a military operation ordered by the White House to the lingering shadow of the Monroe Doctrine, the United States has once again placed itself at the centre of a hemispheric debate. The latest intervention in Venezuela reflects a long-standing pattern of interference that has shaped the political history of generations of countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.

US intervention in the region dates back to the nineteenth century, when the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 laid the foundations of a foreign policy that initially sought to limit European colonisation. Over time, however, it was reinterpreted as a justification for exercising dominance over what Washington increasingly viewed as its Latin American “backyard”.

A history of US intervention by country

Mexico: The war between Mexico and the United States from 1846 to 1848 ended with the cession of more than half of Mexican territory to Washington under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, a chapter that continues to resonate deeply in the country’s historical memory.

Central America and the Caribbean: In the early twentieth century, US marines and naval forces took part in the so-called Banana Wars, occupying or intervening in countries such as Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. These actions were driven by the protection of economic and strategic interests, including control over key trade routes.

Cuba: After the Spanish-American War of 1898, the United States occupied Cuba and maintained a strong military presence on the island for decades. The Platt Amendment of 1901 imposed conditions that allowed Washington to intervene in Cuban internal affairs, a legacy that fuelled local resentment for generations.

Central and South America in the twentieth century: During the Cold War, the policy of containing communism led the United States to support coups and authoritarian regimes in countries such as Guatemala in 1954, Chile in 1973, and Bolivia in 1971. The CIA and other agencies played a role in influencing regime change in favour of governments aligned with US geopolitical interests.

Venezuela and the present: In 2025 and 2026, the military operation against Maduro and sustained pressure on Caracas have become the clearest signs of a return to overt interventionism after years of more discreet involvement. For Washington, the justification combines the fight against drug trafficking and the containment of external influences with an effort to reassert regional leadership.

The consequences for Latin American countries have been mixed. In some cases, US intervention contributed to the installation of governments that encouraged investment or delivered short-term stability. In others, it left behind violent dictatorships, deep economic crises, and enduring resentment.

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Today, this history resurfaces with every announcement of military action or political pressure, serving as a reminder that without a shared framework of sovereignty and cooperation, the region risks remaining trapped between great power rivalries and its own aspirations for self-determination.

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