Canada Pushes Back as Trump’s “Donro Doctrine” Sparks Global Alarm After Venezuela Invasion
Canada’s political class and much of its public are reacting with fury after Donald Trump’s invasion of Venezuela, an operation followed by rhetoric that openly signaled ambitions far beyond Caracas. Trump’s post-invasion press conference, in which he spoke of “American dominance” in the Western Hemisphere under what he dubbed the “Donro Doctrine,” set off alarms in Ottawa and across allied capitals.
For Canadians, the language was chillingly familiar. Over the past year, Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of turning Canada into the “51st state,” absorbing Greenland, seizing the Panama Canal, and rebranding swaths of the hemisphere under U.S. control. What once sounded like provocation or bluster now appears, to many north of the border, as a coherent expansionist vision taking tangible form.
Trump’s remarks went further than geopolitics. Asked about Venezuela’s democratic opposition leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, he dismissed her as weak and lacking popular respect. The comments undercut any claim that the intervention was about democracy or human rights, reinforcing critics’ view that the operation was driven by oil, resources, and raw power rather than democratic transition.
Canadian leaders and commentators have contrasted Trump’s posture with that of European allies. French President Emmanuel Macron publicly affirmed support for Machado and called for a peaceful, democratic transition led by Venezuelans themselves. The divergence has highlighted a widening rift between Trump’s America-first unilateralism and the multilateral approach favored by much of the international community.
Charlie Angus, a prominent Canadian lawmaker and organizer, said the invasion marked a turning point for Canada. In interviews, he argued that Trump’s actions show contempt for international law and alliances, describing them as “smash-and-grab politics.” According to Angus, Canadians increasingly see the same logic applied to Venezuela as a warning of how Trump views Canada: resource-rich, adjacent, and vulnerable to coercion.
Behind the scenes, Canada has quietly accelerated defense planning. Officials have expanded cooperation with European partners, invested in drone and hybrid warfare capabilities, and revisited procurement decisions to reduce reliance on U.S.-controlled systems. While Ottawa avoids public theatrics, analysts note a clear shift toward strategic independence and preparedness.
The broader concern extends well beyond Canada. Diplomats warn that Trump’s rejection of international norms threatens the post–World War II order built around alliances, institutions, and the rule of law. By framing interventions as law enforcement actions or personal executive decisions, critics say, Trump is testing how far unilateral power can go before meaningful resistance forms.
For Canada, the message now is one of resolve. Political leaders emphasize that appeasement is no longer an option and that alliances—with Europe, NATO partners, and democratic states worldwide—are essential. As Trump signals that Venezuela may only be the beginning, Ottawa’s response is clear: Canada is preparing, standing firm, and rejecting any notion that sovereignty is negotiable.
