WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch Trump, Reagan and the GOP's Foreign Policy Vision
10 snips
Dec 9, 2025 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argues that Trump's foreign policy mirrors Reagan's 'peace through strength.' The new national security strategy reveals a focus on China and Russia but lacks a cohesive threat framework. There's a fascinating discussion on the Trump corollary to the Monroe Doctrine regarding the Western Hemisphere. Polls show rising public support for NATO and the military, and a strong interest in defending Taiwan, highlighting a shift in America's foreign policy perspective. Overall, the vibe points to a renewed confidence in U.S. leadership.
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Missing Grand Strategic Picture
- The new national security strategy lacks a clear strategic axis tying China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea together as a coordinated threat.
- Kate Batchelder-Odell argues realism must start with defining those principal threats to guide priorities and interventions.
Hemispheric Focus And Monroe Corollary
- The strategy emphasizes the Western Hemisphere and announces a Trump corollary to the Monroe Doctrine restricting non-hemisphere competitors.
- Kyle Peterson notes this aligns with naval deployments to the Caribbean and pressure on Nicolás Maduro.
Pragmatism Without A Doctrine
- The strategy describes Trump's foreign policy as pragmatic, realistic, principled and restrained but offers little ideological coherence.
- Kate Batchelder-Odell warns this phrasing signals ideological flexibility rather than a constraining doctrine.