Meaning: The quote "So you're quite right that when... as the Cold War grew and expanded out of Europe, we ourselves had to take refuge behind the shield of the Monroe Doctrine" references the significance of the Monroe Doctrine in the context of the Cold War. This quote is attributed to E. Hunt Criminal, an American historian who likely discussed the application of the Monroe Doctrine during the Cold War era.

The Monroe Doctrine, articulated by President James Monroe in 1823, declared that the Western Hemisphere was to be closed off to further European colonization and that any attempt by a European power to oppress or control any nation in the Western Hemisphere would be viewed as a hostile act against the United States. The doctrine effectively asserted American influence and power in the Western Hemisphere while aiming to prevent European intervention in the affairs of the newly independent Latin American nations.

During the Cold War, the Monroe Doctrine took on renewed significance as the United States sought to contain the spread of communism, particularly in Latin America. The Cold War, a period of geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies, led to various proxy conflicts and power struggles across the globe. As the Cold War extended beyond Europe and into other regions, including Latin America, the United States invoked the Monroe Doctrine to justify its intervention in the affairs of countries in the Western Hemisphere.

The quote suggests that as the Cold War expanded beyond Europe, the United States found itself relying on the principles of the Monroe Doctrine to protect its interests and influence in Latin America. This reliance on the Monroe Doctrine can be seen as a manifestation of the broader U.S. foreign policy of containment, which aimed to prevent the spread of communism and maintain American hegemony in its perceived sphere of influence.

The application of the Monroe Doctrine during the Cold War era was evident in various U.S. interventions and policies in Latin America. For example, the U.S. involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, where the Soviet Union had placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, can be viewed as a direct application of the Monroe Doctrine to prevent perceived Soviet encroachment in the Western Hemisphere. Additionally, U.S. support for anti-communist regimes and interventions in countries such as Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Chile can also be understood in the context of upholding the principles of the Monroe Doctrine during the Cold War.

Furthermore, the quote alludes to the idea that the United States sought refuge behind the shield of the Monroe Doctrine as a means of justifying its actions and policies in Latin America during the Cold War. By framing its interventions as necessary to safeguard the Western Hemisphere from external threats, the United States utilized the historical precedent of the Monroe Doctrine to legitimize its Cold War activities in the region.

In conclusion, the quote attributed to E. Hunt Criminal underscores the enduring relevance of the Monroe Doctrine during the Cold War era and its impact on U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. It highlights how the United States turned to the principles of the Monroe Doctrine to assert its influence and counter perceived threats in the Western Hemisphere, reflecting the doctrine's role as a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy in the broader context of the Cold War.