Before Venezuela, US had long involvement in Latin America

[Judi Lynn]

The Associated Press Updated 1:31 pm CDT, Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's accusation that the United States is trying to engineer a coup d'etat and impose an "illegitimate government" on his country resonates with many in a region where the U.S. has a long history of interventions — military and otherwise.

Ever since President James Monroe announced a sort of protectorate over the hemisphere in the early 19th century — a policy known as the Monroe Doctrine — the United States has involved itself in the daily affairs of nations across Latin America, often on behalf of North American commercial interests or to support right-leaning forces against leftist leaders.

That military involvement tapered off following the Cold War, although the U.S. has been accused of granting at least tacit backing to coups in Venezuela in 2002 and Honduras in 2009.

The Trump's administration prominent role in recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó after he declared himself Venezuela's interim president in January — and its staunch support for his attempt on Tuesday to trigger a military uprising — returns the U.S. to a more assertive role in Latin America.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Before-Venezuela-US-had-long-involvement-in-13810788.php

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