Pentagon Signals Shift From American Idealism to ‘Hard Realism’

DID Press: US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared at the Reagan War Forum that the era of “utopian idealism” in American foreign policy has ended, and Washington will now pursue a pragmatic, interest-driven, and results-oriented approach.

In an analysis, Politico noted that Hegseth sharply criticized previous administrations and outlined a markedly different vision for U.S. foreign policy. “The age of American utopian idealism is over. Death to idealistic idealism; long live hard realism,” he declared.

Hegseth emphasized that the United States should no longer expend energy on “democratization, interventionism, unclear wars, regime change, climate activism, moralizing, or aimless nation-building,” but instead focus on tangible, measurable national interests.

On China, Hegseth proposed a new strategy: rather than overt confrontation, Washington should acknowledge Beijing’s growing power while maintaining respect for its historical military capabilities. He also called on European nations to raise war spending and reduce their reliance on the United States.

“The Trump administration is committed to sustainable peace, fair trade, and a respectful relationship with China,” Hegseth said. “Allies are not children; they must contribute their fair share.” He praised countries such as South Korea, Poland, and Germany for increasing war budgets and aligning with U.S. strategic priorities, framing it as a move toward greater allied responsibility in Western security structures.

Analysts argue that Hegseth’s remarks reflect not a fundamental strategic shift but a belated acknowledgment of decades of policy failures, which under the guise of “idealism” and “democracy promotion” cost millions of lives in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and other regions.

As the costs of fruitless wars and the erosion of American soft power become increasingly evident, Washington seeks to recast this strategic retreat as “realism.” Many observers view this approach less as a transformation and more as an attempt to preserve a declining hegemony while transferring the burden of global security to long-pressured allies.