Syed Taimoor Shah
The U.S Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in his address to the General and F lag Officers at Quantico, Verginia echoed the decades old phrase and policy direction – adopted from the Romans to U.S Republicans, now seemingly embraced by few countries to bring lasting peace in the world: “Peace through Strength”. The initiative, under which European countries to buy U.S weapons to fight in Ukraine for bringing peace, is what, in true essence is the “active application of peace through strength”, Pete added before ministerial meetings over military support for Ukraine were held.
George Washington in 1793 told Congress, “If we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war.” Republican candidate Barry Goldwater, in his 1964 speech, promised an administration that keep peace and faith with freedom at the same time. During the 1980 campaign, Ronald Reagon soldered the phrase in American politics. According to Bernard Baruch, a strong advocate for national security and peace, his work on “Peace Through Strength” was a blueprint for security.This almost shaped the U.S foreign policy during the early 20th century.
The phrase in international relations falls in the realm of Realism school of thought. This also means preparedness for wars, integrating defense, deterrence, proliferation, and modernization of arms and sophisticated technologies. However, the economic and political pressure, including non-kinetic domains, are the part and parcel of this much-reverberated term .
Donald Trump in his second term, altered the same decades-old policy with “pressure and diplomacy”, whichsignificantly involves inclusive diplomacy and outreach.Apparently, for POTUS, the way to peace can only beachieved through strength and not through appeasement.It can also be argued that this strategy is not about conflicts, but about vigorous and head-on diplomatic engagements. From bringing the Abbey Gate terrorist to justice, pressing Ukrainian President over the conflict in his Oval office, imposition of tariffs, targeting Iran nuclear facilities, campaigning for his son-in-law’s feather in the cap – The Abraham Accord, siding with Israel against all odds and by bringing powerful world leaders to Sharm El Sheikh Summit held for Gaza and regional peace. However, U.S made it clear to the world that no one can challenge the might of Washington and its dominating military industry, and robust diplomacy. According to economists, the U.S can economically devastate a country by using economic pressure.
In the contemporary geopolitical landscape, it appears that the phrase has turned into a policy-motto for many world leaders in order to achieve Peace in their region and beyond. China, however, in the recent display of military prowess at the Victory Day Commemoration, delivered amessage to the rest of the world that “the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is irresistible!” (Xi Jinping). The policy direction may not be same as that of the West and other countries but one can see the rising powerhouse of China in both defense and economic domains. It has effectively countered the U.S with its own strength and a vision of a community with a shared future. It will be a litmus test for China on the application of “Peace through strength”, if and when its sovereignty and national security are challenged. Only time will tell.
In recent times, for Russia, “Peace through strength”surfaced from Russia’s annexation of Crimea until the conflict with Ukraine. With its old and newly tested,unforgiving weapon system, it showed its strength not only to Kyiv but NATO members and rest of the world. For Putin, the consistent show of strength is to bring lasting peace and stability in the neighborhood and beyond. Interestingly, for President Zelenskyy, pressure and strength is also the key to stopping ongoing conflict. He posted on X, “Putin cannot be stopped with words – pressure is needed. The world sees that Russia responds to strength, which means that peace through strength can work.”
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It is likely that Pakistan’s top politico-military brass also successfully tested the applicability of the policy motto “Peace through strength.” On the eastern front, in the Four-Day War, it sent a loud message to the warmongers and mudslingers that Pakistan stands for peace but it also knows the right ways to achieve it, by giving India a befitting response and exposing its double standards on terrorism. Marka-e-Haq (Battle of righteous) which is nowobserved as a national day, represents the strength and resolve of the people and its leadership. Pakistan’s bold military response, with its empirical history of defensive posture, stood for achieving peace at all costs. Kudos to those in policy circles who finally raised the curtains on Pakistan’s strength toward achieving regional peace, hence emerging as a “net regional stabilizer”. On the Western front, Pakistan from defense minister’s “enough is enough” to active engagements on the diplomatic front is a classic example of “strength and diplomacy” by utilizing kinetic and non-kinetic tools efficiently.
Those against the argument opine that such policies bring only temporary stability and a halt, but the underlying causes are overlooked. They argue that it triggers brinkmanship and jingoism, an arms race, and, above all, the human cost. It also encourages balancing acts and shrewd strategic maneuvering, middle-power countries to stand with the stronger ones. All of this have happened in the road to the two World Wars and throughout Cold War era.
If the “strength” required for a nation-state in achievinglasting peace in today’s complex world is defined byprotecting its core values, independent decision-making, engaging in transactional relations, upholding the national interest, foster resilience, promoting rejuvenation and employing astute conflict resolution skills, then we must wield that strength and embrace the policy of “Peace through Strength.”
Author Bio: Geopolitical Analyst. Expert in International Relations, Counter Violence Extremism and Counter Terrorism. Remained Research Associate at Institute for Strategic Studies Research and Analysis (ISSRA) – National Defence University. Pakistan. Visiting Faculty at QAU Islamabad teaching Defense and Strategic Policies of China.