Carter’s presidency offers valuable foreign policy insights for Trump

Donald Trump once described Jimmy Carter as a “nice man” but a “terrible president,” a sentiment that mirrors a common narrative surrounding Carter. While his post-presidency humanitarian work and peace efforts have earned global admiration, this perspective often overshadows the significant accomplishments of his presidency.

Carter, who passed away at 100 on Sunday, is widely celebrated for his transformative work after leaving the White House. However, critics—especially Republicans—frequently dismiss his time in office as emblematic of national malaise. This characterization overlooks the pivotal achievements during his term that continue to influence the modern world.

Key Achievements of Jimmy Carter’s Presidency

Carter’s presidency brought transformative energy policies and deregulation of industries like airlines and trucking, laying the foundation for economic modernization. Despite serving only one term, his actions had a lasting impact. While Ronald Reagan is often credited with ending the Cold War, Carter played a crucial role in strengthening U.S. defense capabilities, making strategic investments in advanced weaponry, and asserting global leadership through bold actions such as boycotting the 1980 Moscow Olympics in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Carter’s Legacy in Global Affairs

Carter’s extensive experience in international relations resulted in enduring achievements in the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. Notably, the Camp David Accords of 1978, signed alongside Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, facilitated Israel’s withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula and established a lasting peace between Israel and Egypt—a diplomatic success unmatched by his successors.

Lessons for Modern Leaders

Carter’s presidency holds valuable lessons for today’s leaders, including Donald Trump in his anticipated second term. Despite their stark differences—Carter was principled and humble, while Trump is known for his brash and unconventional leadership—the challenges Carter faced remain relevant. Issues such as strained relations with Iran, tensions with Moscow, the management of the Panama Canal, and the potential for conflict between China and Taiwan echo in today’s geopolitical landscape.

A Bygone Era of American Politics

Carter’s rise to the presidency reflects a different era in U.S. politics. As a Southern, evangelical Democrat, he secured a historic path to the White House in 1976, winning states like Texas, Alabama, and Mississippi—a feat unimaginable for modern Democrats. His successor, Ronald Reagan, reshaped the political map, solidifying evangelicals as a Republican stronghold and dismantling the Democratic coalition of the New Deal era.

Honoring Carter’s Vision and Leadership

As the nation mourns Carter’s passing, his life serves as a testament to the complexities of leadership and the enduring importance of vision and principle. His presidency, though often overshadowed, offers a blueprint for navigating challenges and fostering lasting change.

Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin (right) and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat (left) shake hands at the beginning of their second trilateral meeting with U.S. President Jimmy Carter. These discussions culminated in the signing of the Camp David Accords on September 17, 1978.

Jimmy Carter’s presidency left an indelible mark on foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East, China, and the Americas. While his accomplishments are often overshadowed, they continue to offer lessons for modern leaders, including Donald Trump, as he navigates complex global challenges.

Middle East Peace: The Camp David Accords

The Camp David Accords, signed on September 17, 1978, were a historic achievement facilitated by Carter, bringing together Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. This landmark agreement ended hostilities between Israel and Egypt, demonstrating that peace in the Middle East is achievable, even in dire circumstances. However, the deal’s failure to address the Palestinian issue remains its Achilles’ heel, contributing to decades of conflict.

For Trump, this serves as a reminder of the complexities of Middle East diplomacy. As he considers building an anti-Iran coalition involving Arab states and Israel, a strategy that could surpass the significance of his first-term Abraham Accords, the Camp David example highlights the potential for peacemaking in volatile regions. Without Carter’s efforts, regional warfare could have been far more catastrophic.

Carter’s China Breakthrough: A Blueprint for Engagement

While Richard Nixon is often credited with “opening” China, Carter cemented the diplomatic breakthrough by formalizing relations with Beijing in 1979. His decision to sever official ties with Taiwan in favor of recognizing China set the stage for decades of strategic U.S.-China relations. This move also paved the way for a historic visit by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who aimed to integrate China into the global economy and modern world.

Carter’s visionary approach sought to prevent conflict with a rising superpower, a strategy every subsequent president has attempted to uphold. Even Trump, despite assembling one of the most anti-China Cabinets in history, hasn’t entirely abandoned Carter’s precedent of leader-to-leader dialogue. Xi Jinping’s recent condolence message after Carter’s death, emphasizing stability and cooperation in U.S.-China relations, underscores the enduring importance of Carter’s engagement strategy.

Defusing Tensions in the Americas: The Panama Canal Treaties

One of Carter’s most debated achievements was the Panama Canal Treaties of 1977, which transferred control of the vital waterway to Panama in 1999. This decision aimed to address growing anti-American sentiment in the Western Hemisphere and reduce the military burden of defending the canal.

Surprisingly, Trump has recently revisited this settled aspect of Carter’s legacy, reigniting debate over U.S. control of the canal. Carter’s actions, driven by strategic foresight, underline the importance of diplomacy in maintaining regional stability.

Lessons for Modern Leadership

Carter’s presidency showcases the power of diplomacy and strategic foresight in addressing global challenges. His efforts in the Middle East, China, and the Americas offer a roadmap for modern leaders like Trump, who face similarly complex geopolitical landscapes.

On August 12, 2024, a cargo ship accompanied by a tugboat navigates through the Cocoli Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama. (Arnulfo Franco/AFP/Getty Images)

Carter reassured Americans after signing the treaty that the U.S. military would never act against Panama’s territorial integrity or political independence. However, during a series of holiday-season social media posts, Trump alleged that U.S. merchant ships were being charged excessive fees to use the canal. He further claimed that the canal was under Chinese control and threatened to demand its return to U.S. oversight. There is no evidence supporting claims of price discrimination against American ships, and although Chinese companies have stakes in Panamanian ports, Beijing does not control canal operations.

Trump’s statements are widely interpreted as part of his broader strategy of using threats to gain leverage in diplomatic and trade negotiations—an approach that Carter would likely disapprove of. If Trump were to seek to overturn the Panama Canal treaties, he might face the same geopolitical challenges that Carter sought to mitigate.

Carter and Trump’s Shared Struggles with Iran

Carter’s presidency was marred by the Iran hostage crisis, during which American diplomats were held at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran—a situation that significantly damaged his reelection campaign. A failed rescue mission, ending in a tragic helicopter crash and the loss of eight U.S. servicemen, dealt a severe political blow. This failure shaped future high-stakes operations, such as the successful 2011 raid to eliminate Osama bin Laden.

The hostage crisis allowed Reagan to portray Carter as weak on national security, a tactic Trump employed in the 2024 election against Biden and Harris. Trump also drew parallels between the inflation crisis of the late 1970s and the economic challenges of Biden’s term. Adding to Carter’s humiliation, the hostages were released minutes after Reagan’s inauguration on January 20, 1981.

Trump now faces his own tough decisions regarding Iran. With the Islamic Republic significantly weakened following setbacks to its proxies Hezbollah and Hamas and the collapse of its Syrian ally Bashar al-Assad, Tehran might accelerate its nuclear ambitions to protect its regime. Such a move would force Trump to consider military intervention.

This ongoing tension underscores that while Carter’s presidency may seem like a chapter of the past, the geopolitical challenges he faced—spanning Iran, the Kremlin, the Americas, and North Korea—continue to test U.S. presidents today.