Former US President Donald Trump is setting his sights on Canada as part of an expanded foreign policy doctrine designed to aggressively counter Chinese and Russian influence across the entire Western Hemisphere, according to his ex-campaign architect.
The Next Front: Canada's Vulnerable Arctic
In an exclusive revelation to the Daily Mail, Steve Bannon, Trump's former White House chief strategist, stated that Canada is "the next Ukraine" in the geopolitical chessboard. Bannon argued that Canada cannot defend its vast northern Arctic border, leaving it open to exploitation. "China is going to come take a bite," he warned, indicating that a second Trump administration would "come in hard on Canada" to address this perceived vulnerability.
This concern is not new within Trump's circle. During his first term, the president formed a dedicated Arctic working group, which deepened his understanding of the region's strategic importance, particularly focusing on Greenland and highlighting anxieties over Canada's Arctic defences. These worries were amplified in 2018 when China controversially declared itself a "near-arctic state," a move that alarmed former White House officials.
A Strategic Partnership That Raised Alarms
The situation has been exacerbated by Canada's own diplomatic overtures towards Beijing. Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent visit to China—his first in nearly a decade—sparked significant concern in Washington. Carney described China and President Xi Jinping as "strategic partners" and suggested their collaboration was well-suited for the "new world order."
Furthermore, Carney aligned with Danish and NATO allies in opposing Trump's past interest in acquiring Greenland, telling reporters that President Xi "found much alignment of views" regarding American interests on the island. For a Trump administration deeply suspicious of foreign activity in its hemisphere, Carney's comments were a red flag, threatening to upset the longstanding US-Canada relationship.
The 'Donroe Doctrine' in Action
Trump's overarching framework, which he has dubbed the 'Donroe Doctrine', is a modern, more aggressive evolution of the 200-year-old Monroe Doctrine. As articulated after the successful mission to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, this policy seeks to assert unchallenged American dominance in the Western Hemisphere and jealously guard it from rivals like China and Russia.
"The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but we've superseded it by a lot, by a real lot. They now call it the Donroe doctrine," Trump told reporters. He emphasised that under his new national security strategy, "American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again."
The doctrine is formalised in a 33-page White House National Security Strategy document. It introduces a "Trump Corollary," placing the president in the lineage of Theodore Roosevelt, and explicitly aims to deny "non-Hemispheric competitors the ability to position forces or other threatening abilities" in the region. It also expects regional leaders to treat the US as their primary partner, subtly noting that Washington will "discourage their collaboration with others."
The Venezuela operation served as a stark demonstration of the "various means" the US is prepared to use. Concurrently, the Trump administration continues to restrict Venezuelan oil exports, most of which were previously bought by China, which has also made heavy investments in Latin American energy sectors.
Analysts note the doctrine's rhetoric reflects the work of key advisors like Michael Anton, Arthur Milikh, Kara Frederick, and notably, long-time aide Stephen Miller. James Wallner, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation, explained that while Miller held strong foreign policy views, Trump's unique positions have been formative for the administration, merging Reagan's "Peace Through Strength" mantra with a swift, aggressive application of military and economic power.
The strategy has garnered praise from Republican senators, such as Eric Schmitt of Missouri, who told the Daily Mail it revives a foundational principle dormant for 30 years: the US duty to secure its own hemisphere. As Trump watches Canada closely for any signs of Chinese Arctic incursion, his 'Donroe Doctrine' signals a profound and contentious shift in America's approach to its neighbours and global rivals.
