Overview of US Interventions in Latin America
The United States has a long history of intervening in Latin America and the Caribbean, often justified by the Monroe Doctrine (1823), which declared the Western Hemisphere off-limits to European recolonization but evolved into a rationale for US dominance. Theodore Roosevelt 's 1904 Corollary asserted the US right to act as regional "policeman," frequently to protect economic interests (e.g., United Fruit Company ) or counter perceived threats like communism during the Cold War . Interventions ranged from direct military invasions (" Banana Wars ," 1898–1930s) to covert CIA-backed coups , with at least 41 successful regime changes from 1898–1994. Motivations included economic gains, anti-communism, and strategic denial of influence to rivals.Critics view these as imperialistic, leading to instability, dictatorships, human rights abuses, and anti-US resentment. Proponents argue some stabilized regions or prevented worse outcomes, though many resulted in long-t...