In recent years, the northern rim of South America—specifically Venezuela, Guyana, and Colombia—has emerged as a critical focal point for U.S. interests, echoing the spirit of the historic Monroe Doctrine. Originally articulated in the 1820s, this doctrine asserted that the Americas should be a sphere of influence free from European meddling. Today, a modern version seems to be taking shape, driven by strategic commodities like oil, rare earth elements, and the need to secure regional stability.
Venezuela stands at the heart of this shift. With the world’s largest proven oil reserves, this nation has long been a treasure trove for energy. American companies like Chevron have historically tapped into these resources, refining the heavy crude in Gulf Coast facilities. However, recent political turbulence has seen the country’s oil industry falter under nationalization efforts, raising concerns about who controls this vital supply. The U.S. is keen to prevent foreign powers from locking up these reserves, especially as global demand for energy remains high. Beyond oil, Venezuela’s proximity to other resource-rich areas adds to its geopolitical weight.
Next door, Guyana is a rising star. This small nation has transformed into one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers, thanks to offshore projects led by ExxonMobil. The Stabroek Block, a massive oil field, promises to pump out millions of barrels, providing a reliable energy source for the U.S. and its allies. But it’s not just about oil—Guyana’s strategic location on the Atlantic coast of the Amazon makes it a key player in future trade routes and infrastructure, like deep-water cables and energy corridors. Ensuring its stability is a priority to keep these benefits flowing westward.
Then there’s Colombia, a linchpin connecting the Caribbean and Pacific. Its government has historically partnered with the U.S. to combat drug trafficking, but recent tensions suggest a shift. Colombia’s vast landscapes harbor not only coca fields but also valuable minerals like coltan and rare earths, essential for everything from smartphones to electric vehicle batteries. These resources are increasingly vital as the world pivots to green technology, and countries are scrambling to secure supply chains outside of dominant players like China. Colombia’s role as a buffer between Venezuela’s oil wealth and the Panama Canal amplifies its importance, making its alignment a strategic must.
The stakes go beyond commodities. Regional security is at play, with concerns about drug production fueling violence and instability that spill into the U.S. Efforts to curb this have included financial aid and military cooperation, but there’s a growing push to rethink these investments if results don’t follow.
Meanwhile, the specter of foreign influence—whether from China or Russia—looms large. These nations are eyeing the same resources, offering loans and infrastructure deals that could tilt the balance away from American interests.
This modern Monroe Doctrine isn’t about old-school colonialism; it’s about securing the Americas’ economic future. The U.S. aims to lock down energy supplies, protect critical mineral flows, and maintain a friendly security perimeter. It’s a complex game of chess, with Venezuela’s oil valve, Guyana’s oil boom, and Colombia’s mineral gates as the key pieces.
For the average person, this means higher stakes in everyday life—energy prices, tech costs, and safety could all hinge on how this plays out. The message is clear: the U.S. is doubling down on its backyard, and the next moves will shape the hemisphere for decades to come.
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Monroe Doctrine 2.0: Why Venezuela, Guyana and Colombia suddenly matter a lot
— EndGame Macro (@onechancefreedm) October 19, 2025
Strip away the rhetoric and Washington’s fixation on the northern rim of South America is about two things: who controls the hemisphere’s next decade of oil flows, and who controls the chokepoints and… pic.twitter.com/ploPAkebqM
🚨 Today, the U.S. announced its 7th strike in SOUTHCOM, destroying a boat affiliated with a Colombian cartel. The U.S. has massed 10,000+ troops in the region, with most in Puerto Rico and on 12 U.S. Navy ships. Also:
— Ian Ellis (@ianellisjones) October 19, 2025
– USAF B-52H bombers + USMC F-35B fighters conducted a… pic.twitter.com/PyYyZlWSxC
Fun Fact: The Guiana Shield
The Guiana Shield is a vast geological formation that spans parts of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil. This ancient landmass, rich in minerals like gold, bauxite, and potentially rare earth elements, underpins much of the resource wealth that’s drawing global attention. In the modern “Monroe 2.0” framework, the U.S. is focused on securing control over critical commodities and strategic locations in the Western Hemisphere to counter foreign influence—particularly from China and Russia.
The Shield’s location and resources make it a key player in this strategy. For starters, Guyana sits squarely on the Guiana Shield, and its recent oil boom, driven by offshore fields like the Stabroek Block, ties directly into U.S. energy interests. Companies like ExxonMobil, operating in Guyana, are pumping out oil that feeds American refineries, aligning with the goal of keeping energy flows within a U.S.-led sphere.
The Shield’s coastal proximity on the Atlantic also positions Guyana as a hub for future trade routes, including deep-water cables and energy corridors, which the U.S. wants to protect from rival powers. Venezuela, also partly on the Shield, holds the world’s largest oil reserves, though its industry has struggled under current leadership.
The U.S. sees preventing foreign control—say, by China or Russia—over these reserves as vital, especially given the Shield’s broader mineral potential. Colombia, bordering the Shield, adds another layer. Its role as a gateway for minerals like coltan and rare earths, some of which may originate from Shield-adjacent areas, makes it a linchpin for securing supply chains critical for tech and defense industries.
The Monroe 2.0 idea hinges on reasserting U.S. dominance in the Americas, much like the original doctrine warded off European colonialism. The Guiana Shield’s resources and strategic geography—spanning two oceans and bordering the Panama Canal—fit this narrative perfectly. It’s not just about oil or minerals; it’s about controlling the region’s economic and security future.
With tensions rising over drug trafficking and foreign investment, the Shield’s role underscores why Venezuela, Guyana, and Colombia are suddenly so critical to U.S. policy. In short, the Guiana Shield is the geological backbone of this renewed hemispheric focus.