The furor that President Trump provoked with his proposal to relocate all of Gaza’s residents has overshadowed what appears to be a new but unstated American policy — a variant of what has come to be called a strategy of “offshore balancing.”

This concept, as outlined by a group of international relations theorists who style themselves “realists,” calls for the U.S. to remove itself not only from becoming involved in regional conflicts, but for the most part withdrawing its forces from bases on foreign territory.

“Offshore balancing” has its roots in a 19th-century British policy that sought to maintain a balance of power in Europe while London remained aloof from commitments abroad. Foreign Secretary Lord Castlereagh was the first to implement the policy when he successfully prevented the 1815 Congress of Vienna from imposing punishing terms on France after its defeat in the Napoleonic Wars. Five years later, he articulated London’s non-intervention policy, which held fast for almost a century thereafter.

Trump has made it clear that in his second term he too would prefer that the U.S. not be tied down in any region — although he has yet to withdraw any of America’s overseas forces, including those stationed in Germany. He reportedly wants to withdraw 20,000 troops from Europe,........

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