Lowy Institute The Trump Strategy: Stephen Biegun's 2026 Owen Harries Lecture
Mar 26, 2026
Stephen Biegun, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and career diplomat, offers an insider's take on Trump's foreign-policy playbook. He recounts rapid DMZ diplomacy and the Venezuela raid. He breaks down tactics on China, Iran, sanctions and deals. He warns that a strategy of fear and leverage needs reassurance for allies.
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How A Tweet Produced A 36‑Hour DMZ Summit
- Stephen Biegun recounts President Trump's 36-hour DMZ meeting with Kim Jong-un that began from a 6 a.m. tweet and rapid on-the-ground negotiation.
- Biegun describes scrambling via hotline and helicopter to arrange a planning meeting that produced a handshake 36 hours later.
Trump's Three Pillars Of Foreign Policy
- Trump reoriented U.S. policy on China, allies, and Iran by prioritizing dealmaking, pressure, and demonstrating capability.
- Biegun links the Abraham Accords, withdrawal from the Iran deal, and tough allied spending demands as coherent elements of that shift.
Power As Leverage To Produce Fear And Respect
- Biegun argues Trump uses military and economic power as leverage to produce fear in adversaries and respect from others.
- He interprets operations from Venezuela to strikes on Iran-related sites as signals intended to reinforce U.S. dominance.