International Security & Defense

Stephen Walt elaborates on why there is reason to think Donald Trump is becoming a closet realist or even an offshore balancer. However, he also writes that Trump  seems to grasp part of the logic — it's better to let others contend than to do the heavy lifting yourself — but he lacks the knowledge, skill, and subtlety to make a sophisticated strategy like this work.

According to Nicholas Burns, a former U.S. ambassador who served Bill Clinton and in both Bush administrations, Trump’s approach in Syria has more in common with Obama’s than either would likely admit. “I think that the president’s tweet yesterday was specific enough that he has effectively drawn a red line as well. I think that the president needs to respond to this.”