The Trump administration’s decision to abandon Ukraine to Russian authoritarianism is a disaster for anyone who believes in democracy. Not just because Ukraine is fighting for its survival against an unprovoked invasion, but because the U.S. has, at least in theory, built its foreign policy around supporting democratic governance.
We as a people value democracy. I wrote about this in No Vote for You, and I stand by it: if we want to call ourselves a democracy, we need to act like one. That starts with defending the right of people to govern themselves—not just at home but wherever democracy is under attack. Setting aside the question of “how involved is too involved” and notwithstanding the current administration’s attempts to rewrite history by claiming Ukraine somehow provoked the attack by trying to join NATO, we can all see what’s happening for what it is. And it’s not okay.
There are plenty of thoughtful writers making this case right now. Read this piece by Thom Hartmann, or this one by W.A. Finnegan—both of whom are staples in my information diet. But… I find myself flinching every time someone argues that turning our backs on Ukraine represents a dramatic break from our history of defending democracy. Maybe because I’ve read too much Chomsky.
Pfft. As if there’s such a thing as too much Chomsky.
Let’s look at the record.
Don’t get me wrong. The U.S. has an impressive track record of standing up for democracy abroad. Across nearly 240 years, the U.S. has intervened 25 times in support of democratic governments. We fought for our own independence and inspired other nations to do the same. We stood against imperial rule in World War I, fascism in World War II, and communist aggression in the Cold War. We helped rebuild Europe with the Marshall Plan, held the line in Berlin, and backed democratic movements in South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. More recently, we’ve supported Bosnia, Kosovo, and Ukraine against authoritarian threats, and we even helped restore democracy in Haiti after a military coup. It’s a strong list (which I’ve included at the bottom of this article). I get why people see this pattern and assume it reflects our national values.
But here’s the thing: U.S. foreign policy history is messy.
For every time the U.S. has backed democracy, there’s at least one example of us supporting an authoritarian regime when it suited our economic or strategic interests. We didn’t just tolerate dictators; we installed them, propped them up, and kept them in power for decades. In the Cold War alone, the U.S. supported a long list of authoritarian allies, so long as they weren’t communist. We backed right-wing dictators in South Vietnam, Indonesia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and the Philippines, and we endorsed military juntas in Greece, Turkey, and much of Latin America. But we didn’t stop there. In Iran, Guatemala, and Zaire, we directly helped overthrow democratic leaders and replaced them with authoritarian rulers. And let’s not forget our long-standing relationships with the absolute monarchies of Saudi Arabia and the military regimes of Egypt and Pakistan. We’ve been at this for a while.
So, does our foreign policy history really support the idea that we ‘almost always’ back democracies? Let’s check the numbers. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s 25 cases of supporting democracy and 26 cases of supporting authoritarianism. Right now, democracy is losing by one.
Between these lists, there are five cases where the U.S. both supported and undermined democracy in the same country at different times. We restored democracy in Haiti in 1994 after a coup, only to help oust its democratically elected leader a decade later. We helped Nicaragua’s democratic opposition in the 1980s, but also funded right-wing militias that destabilized the country for years. We helped build democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan, but not before supporting authoritarian rulers there for decades. And we backed democratic forces in Greece in the 1940s, only to support a military dictatorship in the 1960s.
And then there are the times we showed up to protect our economic interests by intervening in authoritarian regimes, but didn’t stick around long enough to promote democracy. We landed troops in China, the Ottoman Empire, Argentina, Nicaragua, Uruguay, and the Ivory Coast without challenging the rulers in charge. We helped overthrow the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 but replaced it with an elite-controlled oligarchy rather than a real democracy. This was something of a pattern in the mid-19th century, before we discovered that claims to democracy building make good PR.
Granted, these are more missed opportunities than examples of supporting authoritarian regimes. But we weren’t neutral in these interventions—we backed the existing regimes. In some cases, like Hawaii, we even installed an oligarchy in place of what came before. To capture this nuance, let’s only award a half point each. I found 11 cases, which makes 5.5 points. That brings the U.S. authoritarianism abroad score to 31.5 —but let’s put our thumb on the democracy side of the scale and round down for easier math. Final score: 30.
But wait… there’s more! The U.S. has resorted to open conflict with democratic governments four times by my count. We invaded Mexico twice while it was a constitutional republic. We sent troops into Colombia’s Panama region and directly overthrew Nicaragua’s democratic government in 1857, replacing it with an authoritarian regime. These aren’t support for authoritarianism per se, but they do undermine the U.S. democracy abroad score. Let’s use the half-point approach again, this time as a two-point deduction. Final score: 23.
And there you have it, folks: when you tally it up, U.S. foreign policy has been about 30% more pro-authoritarian than pro-democratic. That’s not ‘almost always supporting democracy.’ That’s something else entirely. Not a good look for the self-proclaimed standard-bearer of democracy.
If you’re gonna talk the talk…
Why? Because it’s not about democracy. Never. Not ever.
It’s about U.S. economic interests. And as I’ve written before, “U.S. economic interests” is what our politicians call the interests of our wealthy elite so as not to rouse the peasants. That’s us. We’re the peasants.
Let me restate: I’m a pro-democracy guy. I believe my fellow citizens when they say they’re pro-democracy people. I know that watching the current administration broker capitulation to an authoritarian regime for the sake of 756 billionaires and their various corporate interests isn’t what any of us mean when we talk about loving our country. As Hartmann points out, this isn’t what our Founding Fathers gave their talent, time, and treasure to achieve.
So what do we do with this? If we want a country that reflects our values, we have to do more than complain. We need to elect different people to govern. I’m not suggesting that we shove democracy down the throat of the world, but for fuck’s sake we have to stop voting for people who support authoritarian regimes. Our next chance to walk the walk is the midterm elections, less than two years away. If we want a government that actually supports democracy, we need to start thinking now about who we’re sending to Washington.
But why wait until November 2026? Right now, our tax dollars are directly funding authoritarian regimes. The U.S. is still selling weapons and providing military support to Saudi Arabia, a monarchy that crushes dissent and exports fundamentalist extremism. We are pouring billions into Egypt’s military dictatorship, despite its brutal crackdowns on free speech and human rights. We continue backing corrupt governments in Honduras and Guatemala, whose repressive policies fuel the very migration crises we claim to want to stop.
Since this doesn’t seem to be the kind of “waste” DOGE is looking for, it’s up to us. Call, write, or email your representatives. Demand that they stop funding, arming, and defending authoritarian regimes. Let them know that you’re paying attention to how we broker peace in Ukraine, and that any shift toward U.S. economic normalization with Russia that doesn’t include regime change is an election issue.
If you love your country, expect great things from it. Settle for nothing less.
Without further ado, the aforementioned lists…
U.S. Support for Democratic Regimes
American Revolution (1775-1783): The Thirteen Colonies declared independence from the British monarchy, establishing a democratic republic.
French Revolution Support (1790s): The U.S. initially supported revolutionary France, recognizing the new French Republic in 1792.
Greek War of Independence (1821-1829): American philhellenes provided support to Greek revolutionaries fighting for independence from the Ottoman Empire, inspired by democratic ideals.
World War I (1917-1918): The U.S. joined the Allies to combat autocratic Central Powers, with President Wilson advocating for making the world “safe for democracy.”
World War II (1941-1945): The U.S. allied with democratic nations to defeat fascist regimes in Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Marshall Plan (1948): Economic aid provided to Western European democracies to rebuild after World War II and prevent the spread of communism.
Berlin Airlift (1948-1949): U.S. and Allies supplied West Berlin by air after the Soviet blockade, supporting the democratic enclave within East Germany.
Korean War (1950-1953): U.S. led U.N. forces to defend South Korea from North Korean invasion, aiming to protect its democratic government.
Taiwan Strait Crises (1950s): U.S. naval presence deterred Chinese aggression against Taiwan, supporting its democratic government.
Greek Civil War Support (1946-1949): U.S. provided aid to the Greek government to defeat communist insurgents, supporting the monarchy which later transitioned to democracy.
Italian Election Support (1948): U.S. covertly supported democratic parties to prevent a communist victory in Italy’s elections.
Philippine Insurgency Support (1950s): U.S. assisted the Philippine government in combating communist Hukbalahap insurgency, supporting its democratic institutions.
Dominican Republic Intervention (1965): U.S. forces intervened to prevent a communist takeover during a civil war, aiming to restore a democratic government.
Grenada Invasion (1983): U.S. led a coalition to overthrow a Marxist regime, restoring a democratic government.
Panama Invasion (1989): U.S. forces removed dictator Manuel Noriega, leading to the restoration of democratic governance.
Gulf War (1990-1991): U.S. led a coalition to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait, restoring its sovereign government.
Haiti Intervention (1994): U.S. forces intervened to restore democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide after a military coup.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Intervention (1995): U.S. participated in NATO airstrikes to end the Bosnian War, leading to the Dayton Accords and democratic reforms.
Kosovo Intervention (1999): U.S. led NATO bombing campaign to protect ethnic Albanians, resulting in Kosovo’s move towards democratic self-governance.
Afghanistan Invasion (2001): U.S. overthrew the Taliban regime, establishing a democratic government (though stability remains an issue).
Iraq Invasion (2003): U.S. forces removed Saddam Hussein, leading to the establishment of a democratically elected government amid ongoing conflict.
Libya Intervention (2011): U.S. participated in NATO operations to protect civilians during the civil war, contributing to the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.
Support for Syrian Opposition (2010s): U.S. provided assistance to certain Syrian rebel groups opposing Bashar al-Assad’s regime, aiming to support democratic aspirations.
Support for Ukraine (2014-Present): U.S. has provided aid to Ukraine following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and during ongoing conflicts, supporting its democratic government.
Support for Taiwan (Ongoing): Continuous U.S. arms sales and political support to Taiwan, bolstering its democratic institutions against external threats.
U.S. Support for Authoritarian Regimes
Philippines (1898-1946): Following the Spanish-American War, the U.S. established colonial rule, suppressing Filipino self-governance movements.
Cuba (1906-1909, 1917-1922): U.S. military occupations ensured governments favorable to American interests, sidelining democratic processes.
Haiti (1915-1934): U.S. military occupation installed and supported a series of authoritarian leaders, suppressing democratic movements.
Dominican Republic (1916-1924): U.S. occupation established a centralized military force, leading to the rise of dictator Rafael Trujillo.
Nicaragua (1912-1933): U.S. intervention supported conservative regimes and later the Somoza dictatorship, undermining democratic institutions.
Saudi Arabia (1945-Present): Ongoing U.S. alliance with the Saudi monarchy, providing military and economic support despite its authoritarian governance.
Iran (1953): CIA-backed coup ousted Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, reinstating the Shah’s authoritarian monarchy.
Guatemala (1954): CIA orchestrated a coup to overthrow democratically elected President Jacobo Árbenz, leading to military rule.
South Vietnam (1955-1975): U.S. support for Ngo Dinh Diem and subsequent military regimes, despite their authoritarian practices, to counter communism.
Pakistan (1958-1971, 1977-1988): U.S. supported military regimes of Ayub Khan and Zia-ul-Haq due to strategic interests in the region.
South Korea (1961-1987): U.S. support for military leaders like Park Chung-hee and Chun Doo-hwan, prioritizing anti-communism over democratic governance.
Brazil (1964-1985): U.S. endorsed the military coup that established a two-decade-long dictatorship.
Indonesia (1965-1998): U.S. backed General Suharto’s rise to power through a coup, leading to decades of authoritarian rule.
Greece (1967-1974): U.S. backed the military junta, known as the Regime of the Colonels, during the Cold War, overlooking its authoritarian practices.
Chile (1973-1990): U.S. supported the military coup that overthrew democratically elected President Salvador Allende, installing Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship.
Argentina (1976-1983): U.S. provided support to the military junta during the Dirty War, despite widespread human rights abuses.
Zaire (1965-1997): U.S. supported Mobutu Sese Seko’s dictatorial rule to maintain anti-communist alignment in Africa.
Philippines (1972-1986): U.S. backed Ferdinand Marcos during his martial law period, valuing his anti-communist stance.
Egypt (1970s-Present): U.S. aid bolstered successive authoritarian leaders, including Hosni Mubarak and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, prioritizing regional stability over democratic reforms.
Turkey (1980): Following a military coup, the U.S. maintained support for Turkey, valuing its role in NATO despite the suspension of democratic institutions.
Honduras (1980s): U.S. support for military-led governments to counter leftist movements in Central America, despite authoritarian governance.
El Salvador (1980s): U.S. provided military aid to the government during the civil war, supporting its authoritarian practices to combat leftist insurgents.
Nicaragua (1930s-1979): U.S. support for the Somoza family dictatorship, prioritizing stability and anti-communism over democratic reforms.
Iraq (1980s): U.S. provided support to Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War, despite his authoritarian regime.
Libya (2000s): U.S. engaged with Muammar Gaddafi’s regime to counter terrorism, despite its authoritarian nature.
Equatorial Guinea (1990s-Present): U.S. maintains relations and provides support to Teodoro Obiang Nguema’s government, despite its authoritarian practices, largely due to oil interests.
U.S. Missed Opportunities to Overthrow Authoritarian Regimes
Fiji (1840-1841): U.S. naval forces landed to protect American traders and missionaries. No political changes. (Existing regime: Authoritarian – tribal and monarchical rule.)
Samoa (1841): Marines landed to protect U.S. commercial interests. No impact on governance. (Existing regime: Authoritarian – traditional chieftain system.)
China (1843): U.S. forces landed in Canton during the Opium War but did not challenge Qing rule. (Existing regime: Authoritarian – Qing Dynasty.)
Ivory Coast (1843): Marines landed to protect American merchants. No impact on governance. (Existing regime: Authoritarian – tribal rule under European colonial influence.)
Ottoman Empire (Turkey) (1849): U.S. naval forces in Smyrna to protect nationals, not to challenge the Sultan’s rule. (Existing regime: Authoritarian – Ottoman Sultanate.)
Argentina (1852-1853): Marines landed in Buenos Aires during civil unrest but took no role in governance. (Existing regime: Authoritarian – military and oligarchic rule.)
Nicaragua (1854): U.S. Navy bombarded San Juan del Norte in retaliation but did not influence governance. (Existing regime: Authoritarian – oligarchic government with strong foreign influence.)
Japan (1854): Commodore Perry’s expedition destabilized the Tokugawa Shogunate, indirectly leading to Japan’s modernization and partial democratization. (Existing regime: Authoritarian – feudal shogunate.)
Uruguay (1855): Marines landed in Montevideo during instability but did not influence governance. (Existing regime: Authoritarian – military and oligarchic rule.)
China (1856): U.S. forces deployed in Canton during the Second Opium War but did not challenge the Qing Dynasty. (Existing regime: Authoritarian – Qing Dynasty.)
Hawaii (1893): The U.S. backed the overthrow of Queen Liliʻuokalani but did not establish democracy, instead supporting an oligarchic regime led by Sanford B. Dole. (Existing regime: Authoritarian – Hawaiian monarchy, replaced by an elite-controlled republic.)
U.S. Conflict With Democratic Regimes
Mexico (1842): U.S. naval forces briefly occupied Monterey and San Diego, escalating tensions with Mexico’s constitutional republic. (Existing regime: Democratic – constitutional republic.)
Mexico (1846-1848): The U.S. waged war, annexing half of Mexico’s territory but did not alter its internal government. (Existing regime: Democratic – constitutional republic.)
Colombia (Panama Region) (1856): U.S. Marines landed to protect transit routes but did not interfere with the national government. (Existing regime: Democratic – constitutional republic with elite-controlled politics.)
Nicaragua (1857): U.S. mercenary William Walker overthrew a democratic government and declared himself president, instituting an authoritarian regime. (Existing regime: Democratic – overthrown and replaced by an authoritarian regime.)
Creative Process Transparency: This piece was collaboratively developed using AI for structuring, refining, and fact-checking (30%), with the core thesis, drafting, and final revisions by the author (70%). You can see the entire ChatGPT session here.