President Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, in Washington, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth look on. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration has released a new national security strategy that portrays European allies as weakened and seeks to reassert American dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
The White House document criticizes European migration and free speech policies, warns of a “prospect of civilizational erasure” in Europe, and questions whether some European economies and militaries will remain reliable partners. It departs sharply from the approach of the Biden administration, which worked to strengthen alliances and counter an assertive Russia.
“This strategy is motivated above all by what works for America — or, in two words, ‘America First,'” the document says. Democrats warned the shift could damage U.S. standing and make the world more dangerous; Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado described it as “catastrophic to America’s standing in the world and a retreat from our alliances and partnerships.”
Criticism of Europe
While the strategy calls ending Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine a vital U.S. interest and seeks to broker peace to “reestablish strategic stability with Russia,” it also contends Europe’s problems go beyond economics. The document cites immigration, declining birthrates, censorship of free speech, suppression of political opposition, and loss of national identity as factors eroding European strength. It suggests current trends could leave the continent “unrecognizable in 20 years or less” and questions whether some countries will remain dependable allies.
The paper also welcomes the rise of patriotic and far-right parties in Europe that oppose illegal immigration and certain climate policies, saying their growing influence offers “cause for great optimism.” German officials pushed back, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul noting NATO alliance discussions do not include questions about freedom of expression or how free societies are organized.
Setting sights on power in the Americas
Despite the “America First” rhetoric, the administration has carried out military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific and is considering pressure on Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro. The strategy frames this as a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, aiming to “restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere.” It emphasizes combating drug trafficking and controlling migration, including “targeted deployments to secure the border and defeat cartels,” and endorses using lethal force where deemed necessary to replace past law-enforcement-only approaches.
Shifting focus away from the Middle East
The document signals a reduced emphasis on using U.S. influence to press Middle Eastern nations about governance. It argues against “America’s misguided experiment with hectoring” such countries, especially Gulf monarchies, and favors encouraging reform only when it arises organically rather than trying to impose it. The administration highlights growing economic ties with Arab states and says the U.S. is less dependent on Middle Eastern oil, allowing a strategic refocus toward the Americas.
“Rebalance” of U.S. relationship with China
The strategy calls for a “rebalancing” of relations with China amid the Trump administration’s tariff-driven trade shifts. It seeks to maintain a military advantage to deter conflict over Taiwan while urging regional allies to contribute more to collective defense. “The American military cannot, and should not have to, do this alone,” the document states, calling on partners to both spend more and take greater responsibility for defense.
Overall, the strategy reflects a partisan and unilateral view of U.S. global engagement: rebuking traditional democratic allies in Europe, reasserting U.S. power in the Western Hemisphere, reducing pressure on some Middle Eastern governments, and pushing allies to shoulder a larger share of defense against China.