Canada Braces as Trump Revives an Imperial Vision After Venezuela Invasion

The shockwaves from Donald Trump’s unilateral military action in Venezuela are reverberating far beyond Latin America. In Canada, the reaction has been swift, visceral and increasingly strategic. What initially appeared to many observers as yet another incendiary episode in Trump’s foreign policy has, in Ottawa and across Canadian civil society, crystallized into something more ominous: a belief that the United States under Trump is openly reviving an imperial doctrine aimed at dominating the Western Hemisphere.

At the center of the controversy is what Trump has dubbed the “Donro Doctrine,” a rhetorical rebranding of the 19th‑century Monroe Doctrine that once asserted U.S. opposition to European colonialism in the Americas. In Trump’s telling, however, the doctrine has been transformed from a defensive principle into an assertion of American supremacy. Speaking at a post‑invasion press conference, Trump declared that “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again,” framing the Venezuela operation not as a limited intervention but as part of a broader national security strategy.

That language has alarmed Canadian leaders and the public alike, particularly when viewed alongside Trump’s repeated comments over the past year about annexation and territorial expansion. Trump has publicly suggested that Canada should become the “51st state,” floated turning Greenland into U.S. territory, proposed reasserting control over the Panama Canal, and referred to Venezuela as a resource prize centered on oil. These remarks, once dismissed by some as provocation or political theater, are now being reassessed in light of events on the ground.

The imagery surrounding Trump’s ambitions has been amplified by sympathetic media and social media figures. A January 2025 New York Post cover—now widely circulated again online—depicted Trump pointing toward Canada labeled “51st State,” Greenland marked “Our Land,” the Gulf of Mexico renamed the “Gulf of America,” and the Panama Canal branded “Pana‑MAGA.” Over the past year, Trump himself has repeatedly posted on social media about erasing the U.S.–Canada border and folding Canada into the United States, framing annexation as both inevitable and desirable.

For many Canadians, the invasion of Venezuela marked a turning point. Charlie Angus, a member of Parliament and a leading voice behind the Midas Canada movement, says the conflict has shattered long‑held assumptions about geographic and political distance. “For decades, Canadians watched gunboat diplomacy in Latin America and told ourselves it could never touch us,” Angus said in a recent interview. “Trump has made it clear that it can—and that it will—if he’s not challenged.”

Angus and other Canadian leaders argue that Trump’s actions reveal an indifference to democracy and human rights. While Canada and European allies have criticized Venezuela’s Maduro government for years, Trump has dismissed the country’s democratic opposition, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado. Asked whether he supported her leadership, Trump responded that she lacked respect inside Venezuela and would not be viable—comments that stood in sharp contrast to statements from European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who has publicly endorsed Machado and called for a peaceful democratic transition.

To critics, Trump’s position underscores that the invasion is not about democratic reform but about control of resources. Trump has spoken openly about Venezuelan oil and the role of American energy companies, reinforcing fears that Washington is pursuing what Angus describes as “smash‑and‑grab politics.”

Behind the scenes, Canada has been quietly preparing for a more confrontational global environment. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has intensified diplomatic coordination with European allies and accelerated military planning. Canadian officials have acknowledged expanded cooperation with Ukraine to study drone warfare, discussions with Nordic countries such as Sweden and Finland about defense technology, and a reassessment of reliance on U.S. military hardware.

One of the most striking developments is Canada’s exploration of a large civilian volunteer force, potentially numbering up to 300,000 people, designed to bolster national resilience in the event of hybrid warfare. Though some Canadian media outlets have treated the idea skeptically, officials say public interest has been significant. “People are asking how they can contribute,” Angus noted. “There’s a sense that this is about preparedness, not panic.”

Canada’s evolving posture reflects a broader recalibration among U.S. allies. European governments that once hesitated to confront Trump directly are now reassessing their strategies, particularly as Washington appears increasingly willing to bypass international institutions. Unlike previous U.S. interventions, which were often accompanied by efforts—however contested—to build legal or diplomatic justifications through the United Nations or allied coalitions, the Venezuela invasion was carried out with little regard for international consensus.

“This is a direct challenge to the post‑World War II international order,” Angus argued. “Trump is saying the rules don’t apply, that alliances don’t matter. That forces every other country to decide where they stand.”

For Canada, that decision appears to be hardening into resolve. Officials stress that Ottawa is not seeking confrontation, but neither is it willing to accept coercion. The rhetoric about annexation, once treated as bluster, is now widely described by Canadian leaders as the language of war. Economic countermeasures, diversification away from U.S. dependence, and renewed investment in defense capabilities are all part of what officials describe as a long‑term strategy.

The risk, analysts warn, is that Trump’s approach could entangle the United States in protracted conflicts it cannot easily control. Venezuela, with its size, population and political complexity, presents formidable challenges even to a superpower. Nationalist backlash, regional instability and global diplomatic fallout could quickly turn the intervention into a quagmire.

In Canada, the lesson being drawn is stark. “We’ve always seen ourselves as quiet neighbors,” Angus said. “But history shows that when Canadians are pushed, we mobilize quickly.” He pointed to Canada’s outsized role in World War II as evidence that complacency should not be mistaken for weakness.

As Trump hints at further expansionist aims—from Latin America to the Arctic—the anxiety in Ottawa is matched by a growing determination. Canadian leaders say the country will continue to deepen alliances, strengthen its defenses and insist on the primacy of international law.

Whether the “Donro Doctrine” becomes a defining feature of Trump’s presidency or a cautionary tale of overreach remains uncertain. What is clear is that, after Venezuela, Canada and much of the world are no longer inclined to dismiss Trump’s words as mere rhetoric. In the Western Hemisphere, the era of strategic complacency appears to be over.