The assertive foreign policy approach, primarily associated with President Theodore Roosevelt, advocated for the projection of U.S. power to ensure stability and maintain American interests, particularly in Latin America. This approach hinged on the belief that the United States should “speak softly and carry a big stick,” meaning it should pursue peaceful negotiations while simultaneously maintaining a credible military threat. A key example of this strategy was Roosevelt’s intervention in the Panama Canal project, where he supported Panama’s independence from Colombia to facilitate the canal’s construction and secure American control.
The significance of this diplomatic strategy lies in its manifestation of growing American influence on the world stage and its shaping of U.S. foreign relations for decades to come. It allowed the United States to assert its dominance in the Western Hemisphere, enforce the Monroe Doctrine, and protect its economic and strategic interests. While it brought stability in some instances, the approach also generated resentment and anti-American sentiment among Latin American nations due to its perceived interventionism and disregard for their sovereignty.
