Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., emphasized on Newsmax Saturday a shift toward "American realism" in foreign policy, arguing for a restrained approach that prioritizes core national interests while maintaining readiness for decisive action.
While on "The Count," Sen. Schmitt called for a departure from past U.S. foreign policies, describing a new era of "American realism" that focuses on core national interests rather than trying to be "everywhere, all at once."
"It's exactly what works," Schmitt said, responding to a question about the effectiveness of the "peace through strength" doctrine. "And it's also, I think we're entering a new era of American realism, which is the sort of the failed foreign policy of the past couple of decades, post-Cold War, this idea that we could be everywhere, all at once, all the time, is just not realistic."
Schmitt emphasized the importance of focusing on the Indo-Pacific region and addressing China's challenges. He advocated for a restrained foreign policy centered on defending the homeland and avoiding prolonged conflicts.
"We have to focus on what are our core national interests, how do we defend the homeland, how do we focus on the Indo-Pacific with China?" he said. "I think that's the real issue here in making sure that we have a restrained foreign policy. But when it's go time, we have overwhelming force, and we can win quickly and get the heck out of there."
Schmitt compared his stance to President Donald Trump's foreign policy vision, highlighting a shared commitment to decisive action and economic strength.
"That's, I think, the sort of President Trump's view of foreign policy. That's Pete Hegseth's view of foreign policy. That's my view of foreign policy," Schmitt stated. "So I think we got a lot of alignment right now."
Schmitt also expressed optimism about the United States regaining its position as a global leader, referencing Trump's inaugural address and predicting a "golden age" ahead.
"As President Trump said in his inaugural address, I think we're entering a golden age here of not just from an economic perspective, but where the United States of America regains its footing and its status on the world stage," Schmitt said.
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Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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