What was the primary aim of the Roosevelt Corollary?

The primary aim of the Roosevelt Corollary was to manage Latin American affairs as a world policeman. This policy, articulated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, was an extension of the Monroe Doctrine and asserted that the United States had the right to intervene in Latin American countries to maintain stability and order, especially in situations where European nations might seek to exploit instability for their gain.

The Roosevelt Corollary emerged during a time when several Latin American nations were facing financial difficulties, which threatened to invite European intervention. Roosevelt believed that if the U.S. did not take action, European powers might come back to the continent under the guise of debt collection or intervention. Therefore, the United States asserted its role as a stabilizing force in the Western Hemisphere, positioning itself as a defender against European colonialism and promoting American interests throughout the region.

This policy had significant implications for U.S.-Latin American relations and established a precedent for American intervention in the affairs of its southern neighbors, ultimately shaping U.S. foreign policy in the region for decades to come.