The Miami Security Forum, held March 16-18, 2025, at Trump National Doral, focused on President Donald Trump's 'Doctrina Donroe,' a Latin America policy inspired by the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine.
Conference Overview
- Hosted by the Heritage Foundation, the forum aimed to become an annual event discussing US foreign policy shifts.
- Attendees included conservative analysts, Latin American politicians, US defense officials, and journalists.
- The centerpiece was Trump's approach to restoring American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere.
Key Policy Measures
Under the 'Doctrina Donroe,' the Trump administration has implemented:
- The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
- An oil blockade on Cuba following the cutoff of Venezuelan supplies.
- Lethal operations against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
- Designation of drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
- The White House describes these actions as a 'resounding success' that strengthens regional security.
Colombian Defense Minister's Attendance
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez attended despite US sanctions on leftist President Gustavo Petro for alleged drug cartel tolerance.
- Sánchez emphasized Colombia's role as 'an essential piece of the puzzle' for combating transnational crime.
- Some Colombian attendees, like economist María José Bernal, criticized his two-day presence in Miami amid domestic issues.
- Sánchez responded, 'We cannot satisfy 100% of the people,' when addressing critiques.
Historical Inspirations
Speakers frequently cited 19th-century US history and Theodore Roosevelt's era as models.
- Brazilian lawmaker Luiz Philippe de Orleans e Bragança praised the 1800s when the US and Latin America opposed European empires.
- Heritage Foundation's Kevin Roberts highlighted the McKinley and Roosevelt administrations as the 'heyday of the Monroe Doctrine.'
- The 'Doctrina Donroe' is termed the 'Trump Corollary,' referencing Roosevelt's 'Roosevelt Corollary' for US police power in the hemisphere.
- Honduran legislator Oswaldo Ramos Aguilar cited Ronald Reagan's era as beneficial for Honduras-US cooperation.
Cuba Crisis Context
Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout amid the US fuel blockade, exacerbated by the loss of Venezuelan oil.
- Trump has hinted at potential US action against Cuba, stating it might be 'next.'
- Heritage expert Andrés Martínez-Fernández noted growing receptiveness to change in Cuba and sustained US focus on the island.
