The Monroe Doctrine is a foreign policy doctrine, or a set of beliefs, set forth by President James Monroe in 1823. Its intended purpose was to protect the interests of the United States and uphold its power in the Western Hemisphere. In this doctrine, Monroe argued that European powers should not interfere with the States' sphere of influence whether through colonization or military intervention, and any attempt to do so would be viewed as a threat. Although the U.S. did not have the proper military strength to immediately enforce it, the Monroe Doctrine became a proud symbol of U.S. foreign policy, and would be invoked by future presidents in later affairs.