The President’s Inbox Trump Foreign Policy at One Year, With Matthew Kroenig
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Jan 14, 2026 Matthew Kroenig, Vice President at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center, brings insightful expertise on U.S. foreign policy. He discusses Trump’s mixed but generally positive approach in his second term. Kroenig highlights the 'peace through strength' strategy, emphasizing a decisive response in Venezuela. He connects great-power competition, particularly with China, to tech measures. The conversation covers Trump's fluctuating tone towards Russia, including potential nuclear pressures regarding Ukraine, and explores future U.S. options in the Middle East and North Korea.
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America At An Inflection Point
- Matthew Kroenig sees the post-Cold War era ending and major shifts reshaping U.S. strategy.
- He judges Trump's overall foreign policy influence as more positive than negative amid these transitions.
Peace Through Strength Shapes Action
- Kroenig describes Trump as practicing "peace through strength," favoring short, decisive uses of force over long campaigns.
- He links Trump's actions (e.g., strikes, targeted raids) to that doctrine rather than isolationism.
Pace Post-Intervention Transitions
- Kroenig urges cautious, staged transitions after coercive pressure in Venezuela: stabilization, recovery, transition.
- He warns against repeating Iraq/Afghanistan mistakes of half-measures and rushed statebuilding.
