Political Priorities in the Fresh Government Leadership
Sean Rego '26, Opinions Editor, pens an impassioned article urging the president-elect to remember the defining traits of Western Civilization as they shape the future of the planet. The article, titled "The Legacy of Joe Biden," does not mention who the president-elect is, nor does it entertain the idea of titling the article "The Death of Joe Biden."
Rego underscores the importance of maintaining peace and diplomatic responsibilities for the next four years, regardless of the president-elect. He emphasizes that the last four years have been a poor image for the prospects of peace across the world and for America to not be dragged into a conflict overseas.
As the world grapples with rising nationalism, authoritarianism, and geopolitical competition, particularly involving China and Russia, the major foreign policy issues the president-elect should address to maintain America's global position include:
- Rebuilding and strengthening alliances and multilateral institutions, such as reaffirming U.S. commitment to organizations like the United Nations and supporting reforms like the expansion of the U.N. Security Council to enhance legitimacy and cooperation with key global players like Japan and India.
- Balancing diplomacy and power projection by avoiding over-reliance on militarization and unilateral coercive measures like sanctions and tariffs, which can erode America’s soft power and destabilize global order. Instead, a mix of engagement and principled stands defending democratic values and human rights within multilateral frameworks should be pursued.
- Managing great power competition and regional stability, especially in sensitive areas like the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East. This means deterring adversarial behaviors, enhancing military cooperation with key partners, and addressing new geopolitical realities such as technological cooperation and shifting alliances.
- Upholding a rules-based global economic order while navigating trade and supply chain challenges. Transactional economic policies that undermine global frameworks risk alienating allies and causing volatility, so a more cooperative approach is necessary to maintain economic leadership.
- Addressing global issues requiring cooperation, such as nuclear non-proliferation, climate change, pandemics, and humanitarian crises, by working pragmatically with both allies and strategic competitors without compromising core democratic principles.
Rego also urges the next president to end the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Israel, while holding a tenable line against the Russian Federation in Ukraine and securing Israel's borders. He warns about a new axis forming across the despotic world, linking revanchist Russia, communist China, and theocratic Iran, and the co-optation of Western-built institutions.
The author references the 20th Century, stating that Western leaders of the past in America, Britain, and Europe stood unified against tyranny and won, despite their imperfections. He hopes the next president recognizes the danger and is able to take it on directly, with words backed by action.
In another article, Rego discusses Northern Ireland, emphasizing its importance and the misconceptions surrounding it. The article, titled "Northern Ireland: The Misjudged Jewel of the British Isles," is a testament to Rego's wide-ranging interests and commitment to thoughtful, insightful journalism.
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