During the 2016 presidential campaign Donald Trump presented a revised version of U.S. foreign policy, one that as he suggested was a departure from the “new world order” espoused by President Bush and modified by President Obama. With the release of the national security strategy it is obvious President Trump has a handle on “realism” and a belief – justified in my view – that the world is an increasingly dangerous place.
In naming China and Russia as disruptive forces on the world stage, the president notes that they are rivals that must be challenged, but not necessarily enemies that must be defeated, a distinction important for future tactics. The report identifies Iran and North Korea as rogue states clearly interested in regional destabilization and transnational threats such as jihadists and cyber warriors.
While these designations yield to the obvious, they also depart from the Obama narrative that the arc of history is moving inexorably toward stabilization. Trump critics like Willian Gaston agree that there isn’t an arc of history that assures U.S. dominance. Of course he is right, but it is wrong to argue the Obama team didn’t employ this argument through its continuing assertions such as “the tide of war is receding.”
Since the Obama foreign policy mission was disengagement, the president underestimated the role unpleasant actors might play in the vacuum he left behind. This newly stated national security strategy is a clear corrective to that misguided vision. President Trump puts these threats in perspective indicating his desire to marshal “our will and capabilities” to compete and prevent unfavorable shifts in various regions of the world. In the past, it was conventional wisdom to contend that China and Russia were invited into the global forums so that they would be tied down by a rules based order. But this did not happen and was a further extension of Obama naiveté. President Trump recognizes the return of “great power competition” that belies ideological commitments. It is the Kissingerian world of balance of power that relies on clear viewed national interest. Trump’s assessment of Russia demonstrates this point: “Russia aims to weaken U.S. influence in the world and divide us from our allies and partners.” So much for friendly rhetoric.
From my point of view, the most newsworthy portion of the report is the willingness of this administration to “champion American values” around the globe, including fair treatment for religious minorities and “the dignity of individuals.” Rather than hide behind the gilded belief America is widely detested, the president is sending out the message the U.S. is an unequivocal defender of Western Civilization and has the inner strength to defeat the dark impulses of totalitarianism.
Trump is unquestionably a realist; yet there is a decidedly romantic dimension to his vision as well. His leap away from “perfection” to stability is one thing. On the other hand, the president wants to win because he believes in American principles. In the competition he envisions our military prowess and economic muscle as offering distinct advantages. These conditions must be nurtured and cared for, but when competition emerges our side should prevail. We rose to the occasion when Russians launched Sputnik believing at that time that our “edge” was lost. But we rose to new heights in our schools and factories. We accepted the challenge and in a decade we had reacquired our national confidence. That is the romantic side of the strategic story in this sixty-eight page document that sets the stage for the Trump doctrine.
Herbert London is President of the London Center for Policy Research, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and author of the book The Transformational Decade (University Press of America). You can read all of Herb London’s commentaries at www.londoncenter.org
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