Opinion: Rep. Mark Alford Says Reviving the Monroe Doctrine Is the Right America First Answer to China and the Cartels
The Missouri Republican argues troop training in Panama, drones for Colombia and Ecuador and closer ties with partners can counter Beijing's ports and drug networks in the hemisphere.
This is a summary of an opinion column. The views belong to Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., not to RightNewsRightNow.
The argument. Alford writes that the principle President James Monroe set out more than 200 years ago, that U.S. security is tied to the security of the Western Hemisphere, matters again. He points to communist China expanding its influence in Latin America and to criminal organizations that threaten American communities, and says it is time to reaffirm the doctrine and put American interests first in the hemisphere.
What he backs. He praises the Trump administration's expansion of military training and security cooperation with Latin American partners. He cites elements of the 10th Mountain Division going to Panama for jungle training and joint exercises under the Shield of the Americas initiative, and the move of MQ-9 Reaper drones from U.S. Africa Command to U.S. Southern Command to help in Colombia and Ecuador. In his telling, that equips allies to break up drug networks and smuggling routes before drugs reach American borders, while letting those partners lead in their own countries.
The China concern. After a recent congressional trip to Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, Alford writes that he saw Beijing's growing footprint in ports, mining and critical infrastructure. His clearest example is the Port of Chancay in Peru, built and operated by Chinese state-owned COSCO. He says increased trade helps Peru but that Chinese control raises concerns about intelligence collection, logistics support or future military use.
Diplomacy. He praises U.S. Ambassador Bernie Navarro and his coordination with Peruvian defense officials and Southern Command's General Francis Donovan against narcoterrorist groups in Peru's VRAEM region.
His close. Alford, who sits on a House Appropriations subcommittee that covers national security and the State Department, says U.S. aid should bring tangible benefits to Americans, counter Chinese influence and be tied to accountability, with wasteful programs cut. His final line: a secure Western Hemisphere is essential to a secure United States.
Note for readers: these are the author's claims and opinions. We have not verified the deployments or the description of the Chancay port, and the text we reviewed did not include a response from the Chinese or Peruvian governments.