Otton Solis: Great and Small Powers Under the Donroe Doctrine

In this episode of Pacific Polarity, Costa Rican economist and former politician Otton Solís Fallas discussed the US capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, the logic of the “Donroe Doctrine,” and the consequences of US–China rivalry for smaller states. Otton argues that Washington’s actions mark a return to a colonial-era “might makes right” approach, with Trump discarding democratic rhetoric in favor of a blunt assertion of American interest. He suggests many Latin American countries quietly share this unease but lack the freedom to say so, echoing the region’s historic subordination to external powers. Otton hopes China can act as a necessary economic counterweight that can expand room for maneuver for smaller countries—though he also warns that America’s moral retreat may create a more dangerous world with fewer shared standards. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pacificpolarity.substack.com