British informal power in South America and Royal Navy reach had effectively supported the Monroe Doctrine since 1815, long before the US Navy had comparable basing and strength. From about 1824, London repeatedly proposed turning the doctrine into a joint Anglo-American declaration, but Washington declined. British control of coal and maritime access could still frustrate German intervention without a formal confrontation. Arbitration appealed to both governments because neither wanted Germany to use the dispute as a colonial opening. The United States only became capable of enforcing the doctrine independently once its fleet infrastructure caught up around 1915.
Notable Point · 13:31-22:15
Monroe Doctrine and British enforcement
The Monroe Doctrine is treated as a practical Anglo-American sea-power arrangement before the United States could enforce it alone.