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The most dangerous illusion in foreign policy is the belief that inaction is neutral. Such a belief invites isolationism and accelerates national decline.
Throughout the short history of the United States, leaders and presidents have been forced to make telling decisions to birth and defend American democracy at all costs. From the shot heard around the world, to the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, entry into the Mexican–American War, the refusal to permit secession from the South, and the acquisition of foreign strategic lands and islands, American leaders, from George Washington to President Donald Trump, have sought to safeguard American ideals of democracy through intentional protections.
While modern critics of America attack the Big Stick Policy and the Monroe Doctrine, or deliberately claim that the United States was nothing short of imperialistic, it was precisely these decisions that paved the way for the nation to survive the tests of time and emerge victorious, not in one, but in two world wars.
In today’s age, the notion of conquering one’s neighbor or embarking on colonialism has shifted dramatically and is largely viewed as a thing of the past, at least in the Western world. Yet the Soviet threat, in its modern form, remains alive and well, with Russia once again seeking territory, as demonstrated by its multi-year war with Ukraine. Likewise, the aggressive threat of China has emerged, not only through its open threats to invade Taiwan, but through one of the most powerful military buildups seen in recent history.
The question then arises: what does the West do? Does it sit idly by while the foes of not only the West, but of American democracy itself, grow stronger—while the voices of democracy fold their hands and insist that war is a thing of the past?
The generation of today cannot afford to make the same mistakes of the past. Evil exists, and while peace is the outward goal of American democracy, reality has a way of intruding. Regardless of how peaceful Americans desire their nation to be, the foes of the world have other plans.
Presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, and Donald Trump understood this reality. Almost ironically, the modern-day Democrat lives in a fantasy world where everything is assumed to work out on its own. Roosevelt, Reagan, and Trump never accepted this mindset, viewing it instead as a failure to protect not only American democracy but the American people themselves.
Roosevelt defended U.S. actions in South America, the Caribbean, and Hawaii, knowing all three were connected not only to trade but to military protection and strategic security. Similarly, President Trump, today, is having his own Roosevelt moment, addressing looming problems before they become irreversible. This is evident in his actions against Iran, the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to face narcotics and narco-terrorism charges, and his willingness to consider strategic acquisitions such as Greenland to ensure long-term American security.
In 2026, the world is not witnessing a change in administration; it is on notice of the restoration of American might and the preservation of American democracy.
Critics shout imperialism or colonialism, whether they are Democrats in the United States, libertarian Republicans, or even Western allies. Yet the reality remains that foreign policy is one of the most important elements, if not the most important part of American and democratic leadership.
As tempting as it may be to fold one’s hands and say, “I don’t believe in war,” and refuse to partake or plan in it, the world remains a dangerous place. It is a world that must be protected from America’s foes. While the former great empires of France and Britain stand optimistic about the future of global affairs, they have largely surrendered their military strength due to the weaknesses of history, often partaking in apology tours. America cannot follow suit, or there may one day be no America at all, if the enemies of the United States have their way.
Assuredly, no U.S. president has sought to be the world’s police. Yet the dictators of the past and present have repeatedly forced the U.S. into that role, one that China will proudly assume if given the opportunity.
Power and geography still matter because they shape the real world, not the fairy tale liberalism tries to portray. Nations rise and fall based on where they stand, what they control, and whether they are willing to defend it. To ignore this reality is to ignore history, and the rise of Nazism and Communism.
As President Reagan said, “America has never gotten into a war because it was too strong.”