Recommendations on National Security and Foreign Policy

by Dr. Walid Phares (January 11, 2025)

Dear President-Elect Donald Trump,

With just a few days before you again enter the Oval Office and your teams land in their departments and agencies, I write this open letter to you to thank you for assuming the responsibility of ensuring the survival of our country. Our nation is, indeed, facing major threats and requires the kind of grand strategies you are capable of implementing in order to save us from ourselves. Your leadership at this critical moment – and the leaders you have appointed – make us hopeful.
My modest role in advising you and your campaign from December 2015 into January 2017 made me proud. You recently told me (at Mar a Largo) that my advice needed to be heeded then to ensure success in the fields of national security and foreign policy during your first term. 

I recall our much earlier discussions, watching as you analyzed and scribbled on the maps covering your desk, leading to your vision for a “warm peace” in the Middle East, fostering an Arab-Israeli coalition, protecting minorities, and eradicating threats like ISIS and other jihadist forces and Khomeinist militias. I was honored to witness the genesis of the Trump Doctrine—ending endless wars, securing the country’s borders, and ensuring national security—during those early briefings.

The past four years led this country to near catastrophe and the future was bleak. We experienced not only a crisis of global instability with the war in Ukraine and the October 7 initiated conflicts between jihadist forces and Israel, but also rising violence in U.S. and Western cities and a resurgence of terrorism within our own borders.

As the Islamic regime in Iran continues on the path to acquiring tactical and eventually strategic nukes, and the global conflicts also continue, the world we once knew became not only unrecognizable, but any glimpse into the future was unsettling. But your returned leadership at this decisive moment, as we face such significant crises, inspires hope for a brighter future, and we once again see an opportunity to restore stability.

With all this in mind, I write not just to thank you, but also to offer recommendations on the critical challenges facing our nation and the free world, especially regarding global hotspots. 

1. Ukraine: Facilitate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Begin with a durable ceasefire, followed by exploring “land for endless peace” agreements and other diplomatic tools. The peoples of both countries, especially the youth, have no desire to continue this war. Give them peace.
2. Israel and Jihadist Threats: Support the replacement of Hamas with moderate, pro-peace leaders in Gaza. Mobilize the Arab Coalition to assist in de-radicalizing the region. 
3. Lebanon: Dismantle terror militias backed by the Islamic regime in Iran. The Lebanese majority seeks peace and prosperity.
4. Syria and Libya: In Syria, provide support to civil societies, minorities, including Kurds, Druse, Christians and other moderate populations within the Sunni Arab majority to stabilize the region, blocking any radicalization. In Libya help the elected Parliament elect a President and form a government away from militias. Engage Turkey diplomatically, first within the NATO community, then promote broader talks potentially involving Russia, Britain, and France (permanent members of the UN Security Council), regarding the future of both countries.
5. Iran: Speak directly to the Iranian people, as Reagan did with Eastern Europe, to encourage a peaceful transition, a comprehensive change in leadership, and to avoid war. Give priority and maximum support to civil society, particularly women, youth and minorities, and release all political prisoners.
6. Iraq: Empower Iraq’s youth—both Shia and Sunni—and continue supporting the Kurds and other minorities, as they have consistently remained our friends and most steadfast allies.
7. Regional Alliances: Call for a second Riyadh Summit. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt should join Israel for a second wave of Abraham Accords. Peace-promoting forces across Libya, Morocco, Sudan, and Africa are also ready.
8. Latin America: Friendly governments in nations like Argentina, Peru and El Salvador should be supported, and friendly peoples in such places as in Brazil, Columbia and Venezuela should also be partnered with. Those who have been striving to achieve economic growth and governance reforms in order to mirror the American dream will help their communities achieve their hopes at home. 
9. Asia: Strengthen the alliance with Japan, and foster defense and economic partnerships with South Korea. You can, and have, effectively handled the leaders of both North Korea and China. It may be time to turn some attention to their peoples. 

And lastly, yet first in priority,
10. Immigration and Border Security: Reclaim the southern border with a sensitive but firm plan for repatriating foreign nationals residing illegally within the borders of the U.S. while reforming the immigration system to align with America’s values and needs. 

Mr. President, with the support of Congress and the majority of American voters, you now have the mandate, and thus the opportunity, to not only change the direction of the path the United States finds itself heading down, but to lead the world toward a more stable and prosperous future. While this is not an easy task you have assumed, I do believe with you at the helm, it can be done.

Wishing you and your administration success,

Dr. Walid Phares
Former foreign policy advisor to President Donald Trump