The U.S. and Israeli pre-emptive attack on Iran, coming after years of feckless effort to end Tehran’s nuclear program, could transform the Middle East. The Trump administration’s strategy of careful maneuvering between Russia and China, combined with pressure on Europe to increase its share of the defense burden, has a chance to bear fruit.
Again the president has acted decisively against an exposed partner of the rival great powers. It did so in Venezuela. It’s doing so in Cuba. Attacking Iran’s theocrats, ballistic-missile infrastructure and command-and-control systems leaves the regime weaker than ever. The assault on Iran, including an Israeli strike that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, also solidifies the Trump doctrine, demonstrating the president’s willingness to use tailored, overwhelming force to maximize deterrence and achieve long-term strategic benefits.
The president’s strategy is coherent and prudent: By systematically pressuring exposed adversaries, the influence of strategic rivals is undercut. This explains Washington’s delicate wrangling with the Chinese over trade, tariffs and military transfers to Taiwan. It also explains a generally consistent flow of weapons to Ukraine—paid for with European cash—alongside intelligence support to sustain Kyiv’s fight against Russia even as the U.S. seeks to broker a peace.
Venezuela was a key partner of Russia, China and Iran. So is Cuba. Iran has been a key partner for both Russia and China. Applying overwhelming force against Iran makes the Trump doctrine more real and substantive while building on previous accomplishments, such as last year’s Operation Midnight Hammer, which “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, according to a senior U.S. official.
Using unique U.S. capabilities against weaker targets—whether dropping Massive Ordnance Penetrators from B-2 stealth bombers or using U.S. special forces to extract Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela—isn’t simply effective military policy. It demonstrates to China and Russia that a direct confrontation with the U.S. would be extraordinarily damaging. Even the Chinese military, engaged in history’s largest conventional and nuclear buildup, would suffer severely at the hands of U.S. bombers, submarines and carrier-based aircraft. The same is true of Russia, which as a military and intelligence matter still sees the U.S. as its core enemy. The strike against Iran also reminds the U.S. military of its great strategic importance, breaking radically with the escalation avoidance that has limited U.S. effectiveness since the war on terror.
The rest of the article can be read at WSJ.
Seth Corpsey is the founder and president of Yorkton Institute.
