As the world prepares for President Trump’s return to the Oval Office, there is renewed hope that his foreign policy philosophy—anchored in the mantra of "peace through strength"—will restore calm and stability to a tumultuous global stage.
His first term demonstrated how a strong, decisive leader could shift the balance of power, deter aggressors, and prioritize American interests while avoiding entanglement in costly wars. With his reelection, President Trump has an opportunity to reassert this principle, fostering a global environment marked by respect, negotiation, and strength-backed peace.
This renewed hope for stability isn’t just an American sentiment—it is echoed by leaders around the globe who recognize the value of Trump’s leadership. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, among others, have recently visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago since the November 5th election.
These meetings send a strong signal to the world that seasoned, conservative leaders are rallying around the soon to be 47th President, reaffirming their shared commitment to a robust, no-nonsense approach to diplomacy. These visits highlight Trump’s continued influence on the global stage and his ability to build coalitions that prioritize sovereignty, security, and stability.
Let’s face it - the world today is marked by uncertainty and in large part to the last four years of a failed Biden presidency. Conflicts rage in Eastern Europe, the Middle East remains a powder keg, and the Indo-Pacific has become the theater of an ever-growing competition between the United States and China.
Weak leadership from the current administration has emboldened aggressors, leading to heightened instability, record-high defense spending among nations, and a creeping sense of disorder in global affairs. President Trump’s peace-through-strength approach offers a corrective to this decline, emphasizing a foreign policy grounded in clear red lines, assertive leadership, and a robust military deterrent.
One of the key components of Trump’s foreign policy strategy is a clear understanding of deterrence. During his first term, his administration recalibrated America’s defense priorities, investing in modernizing the military and making it clear to adversaries that any aggression would be met with overwhelming consequences.
This approach, coupled with his reputation as an unpredictable and bold dealmaker, played a significant role in keeping adversaries like the Islamic Republic of Iran, North Korea, and even Russia in check. Leaders across the globe understood that Trump’s America was not one to be tested, and as a result, the world witnessed a period of relative stability despite underlying tensions.
Take the Abraham Accords as an example of Trump’s leadership in action. These historic agreements, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, showcased Trump’s ability to achieve tangible peace outcomes without the drawn-out, ineffective diplomacy of his predecessors. And also without any bombs being dropped or bullets fired.
By leveraging America’s strong influence and fostering direct, pragmatic dialogue among adversaries, Trump demonstrated that peace is achievable when backed by strength and clarity of purpose. The Abraham Accords also signaled a broader shift in Middle East diplomacy, reducing the centrality of long-standing conflicts and paving the way for new partnerships based on shared economic and security interests.
In contrast, the Biden administration’s inability to project strength has reignited old tensions. Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, which many argue would not have occurred under Trump’s watch, is emblematic of how perceived weakness invites aggression. President Trump’s direct engagement with Vladimir Putin, coupled with clear boundaries and his emphasis on energy independence, served as a deterrent to Moscow’s adventurism. Similarly, Trump’s assertive approach toward NATO, where he pushed member nations to meet their defense spending commitments, strengthened the alliance and ensured collective security.
China, another key actor on the world stage, also found itself constrained during Trump’s presidency. His administration confronted Beijing on multiple fronts—economic, military, and ideological—through tariffs, sanctions, and increased military presence in the Indo-Pacific.
This multifaceted strategy sent a clear message that the United States would not tolerate China’s attempts to undermine global stability or encroach on American allies. In contrast, the current administration’s attempts to appease Beijing have emboldened its aggressive posturing toward Taiwan and other regional partners. A second Trump term promises a renewed commitment to countering China’s ambitions with decisive action and strategic alliances.
Trump’s peace-through-strength mantra also extends to America’s broader strategic posture. His commitment to withdrawing troops from costly and endless conflicts like Afghanistan resonated with the American public, who were weary of prolonged wars with no clear end.
However, unlike his successors, Trump understood that such withdrawals must be paired with a credible deterrent to ensure stability. His administration’s targeted strike against Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020 exemplified this principle, demonstrating that while the United States sought to reduce its military footprint, it would not hesitate to act decisively when its interests were threatened.
Critics of Trump’s foreign policy often point to his transactional approach as lacking the nuance and decorum traditionally associated with diplomacy. Yet, this critique fails to recognize the effectiveness of his strategy. Trump’s willingness to engage directly with adversaries like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, while unconventional, opened avenues for dialogue that had been previously unimaginable. His administration succeeded in halting North Korean missile tests for a significant period, illustrating that sometimes bold, unconventional moves are necessary to break through diplomatic impasses.
The visits from leaders like Netanyahu, Orbán, and Meloni to Mar-a-Lago further highlight Trump’s influence as a unifier among like-minded nations. These leaders recognize the value of a strong America on the global stage and share Trump’s vision of pragmatic diplomacy, national sovereignty, and shared security goals. Their symbolic and strategic alignment with Trump signals a collective readiness to tackle global challenges with strength and resolve.
As Orbán has said many times, “bring back Trump and there will be peace on the world stage”, he is exactly correct.
Ultimately, peace through strength is more than just a slogan—it is a proven strategy that ensures stability while safeguarding American interests and supporting our allies.
Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States can once again be a force for peace, deterring aggressors and fostering stability through a clear demonstration of resolve and capability.
His return to the White House signals a turning point, one where strength, decisiveness, and vision will guide America’s role in the world, paving the way for a calmer and more peaceful global order. Can’t wait!
Bryan E. Leib is the CEO of Henry Public Relations, a Senior Fellow with the Center for Fundamental Rights in Budapest, Hungary and a former CPAC-Endorsed Congressional Candidate. He can be found on X @BryanLeibFL
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