President Trump is Leading with Peace Through Strength

March 4, 2025

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Action Summary

Military and National Security: Emphasis on “Peace through Strength” with actions to restore U.S. military lethality, record recruitment numbers, and re-establish the military as the world’s strongest fighting force.
Hostage Releases: Secured the release of 11 American hostages from multiple locations including Venezuela, Afghanistan, Russian, Hamas, and Belarus captivity.
Diplomatic Engagements and Negotiations: Initiated talks with Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky to secure peace in Ukraine and reassert U.S. leadership in foreign policy decisions.
Counterterrorism Measures: Eliminated high-profile radical Islamic terrorists through military strikes, including a senior ISIS attack planner, and executed 23 successful operations against jihadists.
Sanctions and Designations: Imposed sanctions on Iran by targeting its international oil shipment network; redesignated Iran-backed Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization; banned funding to UNRWA; and sanctioned the International Criminal Court.
Policy and Funding Directives: Reinstated the Mexico City Policy to block taxpayer support for abortion-related activities abroad, and declared that all foreign policy decisions are to be directed from the White House.
Regional Strategy and Countering Foreign Influence: Committed to regaining control of the Panama Canal to counter Chinese influence, supported withdrawal from China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and rejoined the Geneva Consensus Declaration for women and family protection.
Diplomatic and International Visits: Met with international leaders including Israeli, Japanese, Jordanian, and Indian heads of state to promote historic peace proposals, enhanced trade, energy, and defense collaborations.
Domestic Security Measures: Initiated steps to build a next-generation missile defense shield over the U.S. and canceled visas for foreign students with ties to Hamas, alongside mandating that U.S. embassies display only the American flag.
Military Leadership and Policy Adjustments: Appointed Lt. Gen. Dan ‘Razin’ Caine as the next Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman; reversed COVID-19 vaccine mandate discharges; barred transgender enlistment; and restored historic military base names while dismissing military academy visitor boards over perceived ideological biases.

Risks & Considerations

The emphasis on military strength and foreign policy changes could impact international students and faculty at Vanderbilt University, particularly those from countries affected by these policies. This may lead to challenges in recruitment and retention of international talent.
Sanctions and foreign policy shifts, such as those against Iran and the International Criminal Court, could affect research collaborations and partnerships with international institutions, potentially limiting opportunities for global engagement.
The crackdown on anti-Semitism and visa cancellations for foreign students linked to Hamas sympathizers may require Vanderbilt to review its policies on student admissions and campus activities to ensure compliance with federal regulations.
Changes in military policies, such as the barring of transgender individuals from enlisting, could impact Vanderbilt’s ROTC programs and the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The focus on strengthening the U.S. military and defense capabilities may present opportunities for Vanderbilt’s engineering and technology programs to engage in defense-related research and development projects.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt’s International Student and Scholar Services may need to provide additional support and guidance to students affected by changes in visa policies and international relations.
The Office of Global Safety and Security might need to reassess travel advisories and safety protocols for students and faculty traveling to regions impacted by U.S. foreign policy changes.
Vanderbilt’s ROTC Programs could be affected by changes in military recruitment policies, necessitating adjustments in program offerings and support for students.
The School of Engineering may find new opportunities for collaboration with the Department of Defense and other federal agencies in areas such as artificial intelligence and defense technology.

Financial Impact

Potential changes in federal funding priorities, particularly in defense and foreign policy, could impact grant opportunities for research and development at Vanderbilt.
International collaborations and partnerships may face financial challenges due to sanctions and policy shifts, affecting funding and resource allocation for joint projects.
Vanderbilt may need to allocate additional resources to support international students and scholars affected by visa and immigration policy changes.

Relevance Score: 3 (The actions present moderate risks involving compliance and potential impacts on international programs and partnerships.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should monitor developments in U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, as these could impact international collaborations and student exchanges. Understanding the geopolitical landscape will be crucial for maintaining and expanding Vanderbilt’s global partnerships.
Vanderbilt’s Center for International Studies should assess the implications of the U.S. rejoining the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which focuses on opportunities for women and girls. This could align with Vanderbilt’s initiatives on gender equality and provide opportunities for research and collaboration.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion should be aware of the administration’s stance on anti-Semitism and visa policies, as these could affect international students and faculty. Proactively addressing these issues will be important for maintaining an inclusive campus environment.
Vanderbilt’s Military and Veterans Affairs Office should consider the implications of changes in military recruitment and policies, such as the barring of transgender individuals from enlisting. This may affect the university’s support services and outreach to military-connected students.
The Peabody College of Education and Human Development should explore research opportunities related to the administration’s focus on strengthening the U.S. military and its recruitment strategies. This could lead to studies on the impact of military policies on education and workforce development.

Opportunities

The emphasis on international trade and investment, particularly with Japan and India, presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management to develop programs focused on global business strategies and partnerships. This could enhance the school’s offerings and attract international students.
Vanderbilt can leverage the administration’s focus on energy and artificial intelligence by expanding research initiatives in these areas. Collaborations with industry and government could position the university as a leader in innovation and technology.
The focus on peace and security, particularly in the Middle East, aligns with Vanderbilt’s commitment to global engagement. The university can host forums and discussions on international peace efforts, enhancing its role as a thought leader in global affairs.

Relevance Score: 3 (Some adjustments are needed to processes or procedures to align with changes in foreign policy, military recruitment, and international collaborations.)

Average Relevance Score: 3.8

Timeline for Implementation

Immediate dismissal of the Board of Visitors for the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard (This directive clearly specifies “immediate” action, while no other directives in the document have explicit implementation deadlines.)

Relevance Score: 5

Impacted Government Organizations

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD): Central to the overhaul of U.S. military policies, including enhanced recruitment efforts, strategic defense initiatives, and oversight of service academies.
U.S. Army: Directly mentioned for record recruitment numbers, policy changes such as barring transgender enlistment, and renaming of military installations.
U.S. Navy: Cited for achieving its highest recruitment numbers in decades and playing a key role in the overall military strength initiative.
U.S. Air Force: Noted for its record recruitment figures and involvement in the development of a next-generation missile defense shield.
U.S. Coast Guard: Impacted by the executive directive that resulted in the dismissal of its Board of Visitors, reflecting a policy shift in military oversight.
Joint Chiefs of Staff: Affected by the appointment of Lt. Gen. Dan ‘Razin’ Caine as the new chairman, signaling a change in military leadership and strategic direction.
U.S. Department of State: Involved through directives impacting global diplomatic operations, such as embassy flag protocols and broader diplomatic strategies including sanctions and funding bans.

Relevance Score: 3 (Six to ten Federal agencies are impacted by the executive actions outlined in the summary.)

Responsible Officials

Secretary of State (Marco Rubio) – Charged with directing U.S. foreign policy actions, including ordering embassies to exclusively fly the American flag and leading critical diplomatic negotiations.
Secretary of Defense (Pete Hegseth) – Responsible for executing significant military directives, such as renaming military installations, overseeing dismissal of service academy Boards of Visitors, and managing overall defense strategies.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Lt. Gen. Dan ‘Razin’ Caine) – Tasked with implementing high-level military policies and overseeing strategic operations in alignment with the President’s directives.

Relevance Score: 5 (Directives directly affect agency heads and senior Cabinet-level officials, demonstrating broad national strategic impact.)