Republican warns China, Russia, Iran 'trying to invade' Western Hemisphere 200 years since Monroe Doctrine

Rep. María Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., said the United States must better deter Chinese, Russian and Iranian influence in Latin American ahead of the 200th anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine.

"And that is why these evil empires like Russia, China and Iran are invading our territory," Salazar told Fox News Digital. "So we, the United States, we have to wake up and understand that this is our territory and that no other country is going to treat the Latin Americans better than the United States."  Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace. 

"Before, 200 years ago when Monroe signed it, it was Spain, France and England. They did not have the same type of malicious agenda as the Chinese, the Russians and the Iranians. That's why we need to protect America for the Americans," the congresswoman said. "Because the United States happens to be in the Western Hemisphere is the most generous country — or superpower in the world. And we have the great luck — or blessing to be neighbors with the United States. And that's why we need to keep the relationship very close." 

President James Monroe articulated what became to be known as the "Monroe Doctrine" on Dec. 2, 1823, telling members of Congress in his seventh annual message that, "a principle in which the rights and interests of the United States are involved, that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization" by foreign powers.