He uses the big stick metaphor as a way of representing a kind of friendly diplomacy, but prepared for anything.
Step-by-step explanation:
The "big stick" metaphor was widely used in the speeches of President Theodore Roosevelt Jr., as a way of representing the country's diplomatic policies. To create this term, Roosevelt was inspired by the African proverb "speak softly and have a big stick", to represent a friendly diplomacy, but which had great power to face any unwanted intervention. Roosevelt devoted this term mainly to the attempts of European interventions in the American continent, he affirmed that the USA had a great economic, political and military power to prevent these interventions, although looking for a friendly relationship with Europe.