President Trump celebrated his “home run” of a foreign trip during a speech in Italy to U.S. military troops he called the “warriors of freedom” and “the patriots who keep the fires of liberty burning.”

“You are the protectors of that great American flag,” Trump said at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily. “You’re the metal spine forged out of the fires of American strength.”

“Every single day, you protect the safety and security of the American people — and provide a symbol of hope, freedom and justice for the world,” Trump said. “To our friends and allies, you are the ultimate reassurance — to our enemies, you are the ultimate deterrent.”

The president said he “took a little heat” from proposing to boost the military budget, characterizing the money in guns and ships as an investment in peace.

“What’s the expression? Peace through strength,” Trump said. “We’re going to have a lot of strength, but we’re going to have a lot of peace.”

In addition to thanking the troops, Trump used the last stop of his nine-day jaunt through Europe and the Middle East to recount what he saw as the expedition’s successes, saying: “I think we hit a home run no matter where we are.”