The country’s new defense strategy envisioned a dramatic shakeup. It prioritized the homeland and repositioned forces that had patrolled distant frontiers for nearly a century. It handed the task of securing farther-flung defensive perimeters to allies, many of which appeared unprepared to take on the burden. Establishment experts were appalled. Hawks warned that the new strategy would embolden ad...
This article presents a compelling historical analogy between the U.S. today and the U.K. in 1904, arguing that both faced overextension and rising competitors. The strongest version of this narrative is that the U.S. must consolidate—focus on core threats (China), reduce peripheral commitments, and rebuild domestic strength—to avoid decline. The piece credits the Trump administration with taking steps in this direction, such as reindustrialization, tariffs, and burden-sharing with allies, while...