The Western world did not arrive at global instability by accident. It arrived there through years of hesitation, moral confusion, and leadership that feared confrontation more than chaos. As democratic societies debated narratives and sensitivities, adversaries studied weaknesses, exploited openness, and weaponized international institutions against the very rules they claimed to uphold.
Restoring stability required more than diplomacy or slogans. It required a strategy executed deliberately, in stages. US President Donald Trump understood this reality and acted accordingly.
The first step was not overseas. It was internal.
Step one: Restoring moral clarity and military confidence
No nation can project strength abroad if it doubts itself at home. Before confronting foreign threats, the United States faced a deep internal crisis: eroding national confidence, ideological radicalization, confusion over values, and declining trust in institutions. This confusion reached even the US military – an institution that depends on clarity, discipline, and unity of purpose.
A military cannot function at full capacity when ideological experimentation replaces standards, when merit is subordinated to politics, and when its mission is blurred. Confusion erodes morale. Low morale erodes deterrence.
President Trump recognized that restoring American strength required restoring moral clarity. His appointment of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, a combat veteran who understands the warrior ethos, sent an unmistakable signal: The US military would once again be guided by military standards, discipline, and readiness, not ideological fashion.
Under Hegseth’s leadership, service members were reminded why they volunteered: to defend the nation, uphold its values, and serve with honor. Respect returned. Confidence returned. Recruitment surged – not because of marketing campaigns but because Americans once again believed in the mission.
A confident military is not about aggression. It is about deterrence. When adversaries believe America lacks conviction, they advance. When they see clarity and resolve, they hesitate.
Step two: Rebuilding economic sovereignty through the power of commerce
Military strength alone cannot sustain global leadership without economic sovereignty. President Trump understood that commerce is not merely an engine of prosperity; it is a tool of national power.
For decades, the United States treated trade as an abstract ideal rather than a strategic instrument. America opened its markets while rivals imposed barriers, stole intellectual property, manipulated currencies, and hollowed out US manufacturing. Critical supply chains – pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, rare earth minerals, energy, and basic consumer goods – were outsourced to regimes that neither share democratic values nor hesitate to weaponize dependence.
Rebuilding economic sovereignty required using the strength of American commerce as leverage. By renegotiating trade relationships, confronting unfair practices, and attracting trillions of dollars in investment back to the United States, the administration accelerated domestic manufacturing, energy independence, and long-term economic resilience.
Step three: Restoring law, order, and internal security
Economic and military strength cannot endure without internal stability. By restoring border enforcement and upholding the rule of law, the administration reinforced the principle that sovereignty, safety, and social cohesion are inseparable.
Step four: Ending wars, returning hostages, and reestablishing deterrence
In the Middle East, clear redlines, decisive support for allies, and credible pressure on hostile actors brought an end to active conflict and enabled the return of hostages, including American citizens. Deterrence was restored not through appeasement but through resolve.
Step five: Enforcing accountability in the Western Hemisphere and beyond
By applying sustained pressure on corrupt and authoritarian regimes in Venezuela and Cuba and by isolating Iran economically and strategically, the administration demonstrated that accountability would be enforced consistently, not selectively.
Peace through strength is not outdated doctrine. It is the only doctrine that has ever stabilized a dangerous world.
The writer is the founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce.