Rich Lowry on Trump's Traditional American Foreign Policy and Venezuela

Trump's "Traditional American Approach" to Foreign Policy

• 💡 Trump's foreign policy is characterized as a return to a "traditional American approach," specifically referencing the Monroe Doctrine.
• 🎯 This approach emphasizes US supremacy in the Western Hemisphere and aims to exclude European intervention, a principle dating back over 150 years.
• 🔑 The Roosevelt Corollary and Lodge Corollary are highlighted as expansions of the Monroe Doctrine, granting the US a right to intervene in cases of disorder that threaten US interests or invite foreign interference.

Venezuela Actions and Intervention

• ⚠️ The discussion frames Trump's actions regarding Venezuela not as a law enforcement operation but as an act of war to topple a head of state.
• ⚡ Compared to past US interventions, the current approach is described as minimalistic, akin to a "snatch and grab" rather than prolonged occupation.
• 📈 Risks are acknowledged, but the strategy is seen as calculated to minimize downside risks.
• 🇺🇸 The US has intervened in Latin America on less provocation, often due to fiscal mismanagement or to prevent European influence, demonstrating a historical precedent for such actions.

"Keeping the Oil" and Strategic Messaging

• 💰 Trump's fixation on "keeping the oil" is noted, stemming from his critique of the Iraq War and a desire to gain assets and benefit from transactions.
• 🗣️ While the speaker believes Venezuelan oil should benefit Venezuelans, Trump's presentation is seen as potentially counterproductive.
• 💬 The idea of the US "running Venezuela" is clarified; the US is influencing, not directly governing, the country.
• 🚀 The operation is described as audacious and highly proficient, sending a strong message to adversaries like China, Iran, and Russia about US military capabilities.

Analogies and Geopolitical Implications

• 🇵🇼 The Panama intervention under George H.W. Bush is presented as a successful, albeit more involved, analogous operation.
• 🇨🇳 The potential impact on the situation with Taiwan is discussed, with the argument that China's actions are likely regardless of US foreign policy stances.
• 🇩🇰 The potential annexation of Greenland is brought up as a more extreme hypothetical, with Trump's openness to such audacious plans being a recurring theme.
• 🤝 Trump's negotiation style is characterized by setting high expectations ("expect a 10") to ultimately achieve a more moderate outcome ("wind up with a five or a six").