Trump Doctrine prioritizes the fight vs. Islamic extremism

Every president enters office with their own foreign-policy doctrine as it relates to United State interests. The Eisenhower Doctrine assured the world that if conflict arose requiring America intervention, we would be there. The Reagan Doctrine was peace through strength and the containment of communism. Now, we enter the age of the Trump Doctrine.

President Donald Trump initiated his first international trip last month, revealing insights into this administration’s foreign policy. Trump’s first stop was a historic speech to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Saudi Arabia.

Never before had a president’s first international landing spot been to a Muslim nation. To an assembly of guests from Muslim nations in the Middle East, President Trump made undeniably certain his top foreign-policy objective in the Middle East is to win the fight vs. Islamic extremism.

Laced throughout Trump’s 33-minute speech to Muslim leaders were distinct calls to action and making crystal clear the role of the U.S. in achieving the mission. Most notably lacking from his speech was the vague aphorism “war on terror.” The omittance of this term marks a substantial change in the vision of American foreign policy in the Middle East.

Trump’s measured language represents a shift from sudden U.S. intervention into foreign matters toward broader, gradual reforms creating stability and bolstering international security.

Trump also reinforced the role other nations, particularly those in the Middle East, must play in ridding the world of Islamic extremism. He made clear the U.S. intention is NOT to tell other countries what to do, how to live or who to worship. The United States is no longer in the nation-building business. Instead, Trump offered a partnership to achieve a common goal to an imminent threat.

Not only did Trump’s foreign policy begin to come into focus in Saudi Arabia, but he reminded us of his domestic priorities: jobs, jobs, jobs.

While abroad, President Trump announced a trade agreement nearing $110 billion between the Saudi kingdom and the U.S., creating jobs for both nations. This trade agreement includes an arms deal that will help the Saudi military in taking a much more independent role in security operations within the region.

The historic nature of this deal has returned the Saudi kingdom back to the forefront of U.S. foreign policy, in a direct contrast to the prior administration, which negotiated the reckless Iran deal.

President Trump’s first international trip was an undeniable success. He reconfirmed his campaign promise to eliminate Islamic extremism, unveiled his foreign policy principled realism, inked a $110 billion trade deal and clearly articulated the U.S.’ role in the region.

As President Trump told the assembly, “old formulas would be cast aside,” and they have been replaced with the Trump Doctrine.

Robert Graham is chairman of the Arizona Republican Party. Email him at RG@azgop.org; follow on Twitter, @RobertSGraham.