Many observers are ringing the alarm bells about Donald Trump’s reelection, fearing a retreat from America’s role in the world. Critics insist that his approach to foreign policy will dismantle the rules-based international order that the U.S. has long championed.
But although Trump’s approach is far from traditional, it is neither reckless nor isolationist. Instead, it represents a strategy of restraint aimed at addressing core threats without entangling America in endless global commitments.
To understand Trump’s likely grand strategy, set aside the assumption that America’s primary role is to uphold a global order shaped entirely by its own ideals. Trump isn’t likely to pursue that vision. Instead, he’s preparing to face a world where rival powers like China, Russia and Iran are asserting their own interests. His approach is not about defending a bygone era of American-led global hegemony but about selectively engaging where it truly matters to our interests.
This kind of realism, known as “restraint” in international relations, is a far cry from the image of an America that polices the world or attempts to reshape other societies. Restraint involves a focused, cost-conscious strategy, avoiding the overreach and entanglements that have marked American foreign policy in recent decades.
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