Progressive Lawmakers Gather in Uruguay to Challenge Trump’s “Donroe Doctrine”

A group of progressive House members and left-leaning Democratic candidates are traveling to Montevideo, Uruguay, to attend the PanAmerican Congress scheduled for August 21-23. The delegation will use the summit to oppose President Trump’s “Donroe Doctrine,” which they describe as a modernized Monroe Doctrine that emphasizes military and economic pressure on Latin American nations.

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The “Donroe Doctrine,” a term coined by the administration, frames U.S. policy as a partnership to combat drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and perceived Chinese influence. Critics say the strategy relies on tariffs, sanctions, and direct military action—tactics they argue undermine human rights and sovereign elections. The doctrine coincides with a wave of right-wing victories in Latin America, including the recent endorsement by Trump of conservative outsider Abelardo de la Espriella, who narrowly defeated progressive candidate Iván Cepeda in Colombia’s June election.

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• Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington) – leading the delegation and author of a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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• Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Illinois) – traveling with Jayapal.

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• Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) – chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, supportive of the mission.

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• Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) – addressing the conference virtually.

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• Ernesto Samper – former Colombian president, attending as an elder statesman.

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• Progressive candidates: Claire Valdez (NY-7), Darializa Avila Chevalier (NY-13), Chris Rabb (PA-3), and Dr. Adam Hamawy (NJ-12).

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The summit will host more than 150 lawmakers from across the Americas.

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Sanders framed the effort as uniting progressive voices to combat “oligarchy, authoritarianism and greed.”

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• “Therefore, this hegemonic aggression that the region is facing deserves a progressive and sensible response, which I hope will emerge from this forum,” — Ernesto Samper, former colombian president

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