Never Give an Inch

1. America First: A Bold Vision for U.S. Foreign Policy

"America First foreign policy was tethered to three central ideas: realism, restraint, and respect."

Redefining American diplomacy. The Trump administration sought to break from conventional foreign policy approaches by prioritizing American interests above all else. This meant:

• Reasserting American sovereignty in international agreements
• Demanding fairness and reciprocity in trade relationships
• Confronting adversaries directly rather than appeasing them

Challenging the status quo. Pompeo and the Trump team faced significant resistance from:

• The Washington foreign policy establishment
• International organizations accustomed to American deference
• Allies who had grown comfortable with unbalanced relationships

By focusing on American interests first, the administration aimed to create a more secure and prosperous nation while still maintaining global leadership.

2. Confronting China: The Greatest External Threat to American Way of Life

"The CCP presents by far the greatest external threat to our way of life in America today."

Recognizing the true nature of the CCP. Pompeo led efforts to expose the Chinese Communist Party's:

• Aggressive global ambitions
• Human rights abuses, including in Xinjiang and Hong Kong
• Unfair economic practices and intellectual property theft
• Military expansion and threats to regional stability

Shifting U.S. strategy. The administration worked to:

• Build a coalition of allies to counter Chinese influence
• Restrict Chinese companies like Huawei from critical infrastructure
• Impose targeted sanctions and trade measures
• Strengthen support for Taiwan and other regional partners

This marked a significant departure from decades of engagement policy, aiming to confront China's challenge to American interests and values head-on.

3. Deterrence Through Strength: Drawing Clear Lines and Defending Them

"Deterrence requires convincing your rivals not to take certain courses of action because of the intolerable consequences they will suffer in response."

Restoring American credibility. The Trump administration sought to reestablish deterrence by:

• Clearly communicating red lines to adversaries
• Demonstrating willingness to use force when necessary
• Rebuilding military capabilities and readiness

Key examples:

• Striking Syrian military targets in response to chemical weapons use
• Eliminating Iranian General Qasem Soleimani
• Increasing pressure on North Korea to halt nuclear and missile programs

By projecting strength and resolve, the administration aimed to prevent conflicts and protect American interests without resorting to prolonged military engagements.

4. No Bad Deals: Prioritizing American Interests in Negotiations

"We didn't pay a penny to get captives back from the DPRK."

Rejecting flawed agreements. Pompeo emphasized the importance of:

• Walking away from deals that didn't serve American interests
• Refusing to make concessions without reciprocal benefits
• Maintaining leverage in negotiations through strength

Key examples:

• Withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA)
• Renegotiating trade agreements like NAFTA
• Securing hostage releases without paying ransoms

This approach aimed to break the cycle of unfavorable agreements that had accumulated over previous administrations, prioritizing long-term American interests over short-term diplomatic "wins."

5. Telling Hard Truths: The Core of Effective Statesmanship

"Telling hard truths is foundational to the greatest acts of statesmanship."

Speaking honestly about challenges. Pompeo emphasized the importance of:

• Clearly articulating threats to American interests
• Challenging long-held assumptions in foreign policy
• Confronting allies and partners when necessary

Key examples:

• Publicly calling out China's human rights abuses and global ambitions
• Demanding NATO allies increase defense spending
• Addressing the failures of previous policies towards North Korea and Iran

By prioritizing truth-telling over diplomatic niceties, Pompeo aimed to create a more realistic and effective foreign policy based on facts rather than wishful thinking.

6. Faith and Diplomacy: The Role of Christian Values in Foreign Policy

"I am grateful that my call as a Christian to protect human dignity overlaps with America's centuries-old commitment to the same mission in our foreign policy all across the world."

Integrating personal faith with public service. Pompeo:

• Drew inspiration from his Christian beliefs in shaping policy
• Emphasized religious freedom as a key diplomatic priority
• Engaged with faith leaders around the world

Key initiatives:

• Hosting the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom
• Advocating for persecuted religious minorities globally
• Incorporating faith-based perspectives in human rights policy

While facing criticism for openly discussing his faith, Pompeo argued that religious values could inform and strengthen American diplomacy, particularly in defending human dignity and freedom.

7. Reforming International Organizations: Putting American Sovereignty First

"We were simply and importantly conducting a performance review of our international commitments and asking the reasonable questions: Does staying with this arrangement or being part of this international organization honor our sovereignty? Is it good for the American people?"

Reevaluating multilateral commitments. The administration:

• Withdrew from agreements deemed unfavorable to U.S. interests
• Demanded reforms in international organizations like the UN and WHO
• Prioritized bilateral relationships over multilateral forums

Key actions:

• Exiting the Paris Climate Agreement
• Withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council
• Reforming NATO burden-sharing

This approach aimed to preserve American sovereignty and ensure that international commitments truly served U.S. interests, even if it meant challenging long-standing arrangements.

8. The Art of Dealmaking: Lessons from Trump's Diplomatic Approach

"The best dealmakers—in business, law, and politics—have a few things in common: They map out a strategy. They defend their interests. And—critically—they aren't afraid to push for what they want, even if that means looking like a jerk."

Applying business principles to diplomacy. Trump and Pompeo:

• Prioritized concrete outcomes over diplomatic process
• Used unconventional tactics to gain leverage
• Weren't afraid to walk away from unfavorable negotiations

Key examples:

• Direct engagement with North Korea's Kim Jong Un
• Renegotiating trade deals with China and other partners
• Using economic sanctions as a primary tool of influence

This approach often bucked traditional diplomatic norms but aimed to achieve more favorable results for American interests.

9. Countering Iran: Maximum Pressure and Strategic Confrontation

"We were determined to see this difficult process through, thinking that maybe, just maybe, North Korea would become serious about denuclearizing."

Shifting from engagement to pressure. The administration:

• Withdrew from the JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal)
• Imposed comprehensive economic sanctions
• Confronted Iranian proxies and influence across the Middle East

Key actions:

• Designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization
• Eliminating General Qasem Soleimani
• Building a coalition of regional allies against Iran

This strategy aimed to force Iran back to the negotiating table on more favorable terms and curtail its regional aggression and nuclear ambitions.

10. Hostage Diplomacy: Securing the Release of Americans Abroad

"You can't say you're putting America first if you aren't striving to protect the unalienable rights of 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness'—and sometimes that means getting Americans who want to exercise those rights out of unjust captivity."

Prioritizing American lives. The administration:

• Made hostage recovery a top diplomatic priority
• Refused to pay ransoms or make unethical compromises
• Used diplomatic and economic pressure to secure releases

Key successes:

• Freeing Americans held in North Korea
• Securing releases from Iran, Turkey, and other countries
• Improving interagency coordination on hostage cases

By focusing on this often-overlooked aspect of diplomacy, Pompeo aimed to demonstrate the government's commitment to protecting individual Americans abroad while maintaining a firm stance against adversaries.

Last updated: December 2, 2024