The Foreign Affairs Interview

What Republican Foreign Policy Gets Wrong

Aug 15, 2024

Kori Schake, a senior fellow and director of foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute, critiques the implications of a potential second Trump presidency on U.S. foreign policy. She delves into the concept of 'conservative internationalism' and explores the historical missteps in American military interventions. Discussions include challenges posed by nations like China and Russia, inconsistencies in defense spending, and the precarious state of alliances. Schake advocates for a reformed approach that balances American strength with global responsibilities.

38:12

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Episode guests

Kori Schake

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Quick takeaways

The podcast emphasizes the need for a conservative internationalism that strengthens American power while remaining engaged with global realities.

Critiques of U.S. military interventions reveal a disconnect between political objectives and resources, raising skepticism about future military commitments.

Deep dives

The Need for Conservative Internationalism

A shift toward conservative internationalism is proposed as a necessary response to America's changing global role. This perspective emphasizes strengthening American power while also being mindful of global implications. This approach advocates for a balanced foreign policy that acknowledges past mistakes without abandoning the principles of free trade and the promotion of democracy. The argument stresses that past errors do not negate the benefits of open markets, especially when fairly negotiated trade agreements can ensure compliance from all participants.

Intro

4min

Critique of American Foreign Policy

14min

Analyzing Republican Foreign Policy and Its Implications

4min

U.S. Defense Spending and Global Threats

11min

The Critical Vulnerability of the Defense Industrial Base

3min

Optimism in Civil-Military Relations

3min

As the U.S. presidential election swings into high gear, speculation about a second-term Trump foreign policy is also becoming more intense. Would he push radical changes to policy on China, or Ukraine, or the war in Gaza? Can his campaign promises be taken at face value? Would he be reined in—by staff, Congress, or his own aversion to risk?

Kori Schake has been one of Trump’s fiercest critics among Republican foreign policy hands. Schake is a senior fellow and director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of Safe Passage: The Transition From British to American Hegemony. She served on the National Security Council and in the U.S. State Department under President George W. Bush. Yet even while warning of the consequences of a second Trump term, she shares the view that U.S. foreign policy needs to change—to align with what she calls a new conservative internationalism that would invest in American strength without neglecting the rest of the world.

You can find transcripts and more episodes of The Foreign Affairs Interview at https://www.foreignaffairs.com/podcasts/foreign-affairs-interview.

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The Foreign Affairs Interview

What Republican Foreign Policy Gets Wrong

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Need for Conservative Internationalism

Lessons from Military Interventions

Implications of a Potential Trump Foreign Policy

Challenges of the Defense Industrial Base

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts