Prоtecting trаde rоutes tо-аnd-from [BLANK-1] becаme a very important issue of United States foreign policy, particularly during the administration of Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt went so far as to send naval forces to the theater in order to ensure that this region could ensure its independence from Colombia. This foreign policy emphasis led the United States to be more involved in Latin America and gave it a vested interest in the political and fiscal stability of countries in the region.