Trump's New National Security Strategy: 'America First,' and Russia No Longer the Aggressor

On December 4, 2025, the White House quietly released the updated National Security Strategy of the United States. The document is an official statement of the United States' global priorities. The key provisions of the strategy are described in Politico, New York Times и CBC News.

The 33-page document became the first official manifesto of Donald Trump's foreign policy in his second presidential term.

Such strategies are usually announced by heads of state only once per term, and they not only outline the country's global priorities, but also outline budget allocations, troop deployments, and set diplomatic priorities.

In his introduction, Trump called the strategy "a roadmap to ensure America remains the greatest and most successful nation in human history and the bastion of freedom on earth."

But behind this solemn rhetoric lies a radical shift – away from ideas of global dominance and toward the hard-nosed pragmatism of “America first.”

On the subject: Putin met with Whitkoff and Kushner in Moscow: five hours of talks ended in nothing.

The document rejects the "imposition of democracy" as a mission, focuses on profits, borders, and economic power, and openly criticizes allies, especially in Europe. This isn't just a piece of paper—it's a manifesto, which has already caused a storm in Brussels, Moscow, and Beijing. It promises to restructure alliances for years to come—effectively proclaiming the collapse of the global security system built since World War II.

Western Hemisphere: Back to the Monroe Doctrine

The strategy centers on the Western Hemisphere, which it proclaims to be the United States' exclusive zone of influence. The document not only revives the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 (the principle that prohibited foreign powers from interfering in American affairs) but also complements it. Trump believes the United States must remain the dominant power in the hemisphere.

“We will not allow competitors (meaning mainly China. – Approx. Ed.") to deploy forces or other threatening capabilities, and to control strategically important assets in our hemisphere," the document states. This implies not one-off actions, but a fundamental restructuring: the transfer of troops from the Middle East and Europe to Latin America to combat migration, drug trafficking, and 'malign influence.'"

The military buildup is being billed as permanent, not temporary. The controversial strikes against drug boats in the Caribbean and Atlantic are being presented as part of the war on cartels. But the administration is open about the fact that this is a tool to pressure Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro to step down. The strategy calls for "a more adequate Coast Guard and Navy presence to monitor sea lanes, curb illegal migration, human and drug trafficking, and secure key routes during crises."

The document, while offering few details about plans for a direct intervention in Venezuela, emphasizes a “predisposition to non-intervention” and makes clear that American forces will be redeployed from lower-priority regions to “prevent urgent threats in our hemisphere.”

Latin America and the Caribbean are receiving unprecedented attention, unlike all previous strategies, which prioritized Russia, China, or the fight against terrorism.

Washington promises to strengthen ties with local governments, jointly identify strategic resources such as rare earth metals, and attract US businesses.

"We will reward and encourage governments, parties and movements in the region that generally agree with our principles and strategy," the published text states.

US-dependent countries are required to award major government contracts without competitive bidding exclusively to companies from the United States: “The terms of our agreements… must provide for contracts to be concluded only with our companies.”

Such promises could flatter Latin American elites, long resentful of Washington's neglect. Trump has already supported conservative leaders like Javier Miley by providing Argentina with $40 billion in economic aid. However, these promises sit awkwardly with Trump's trade tariffs, which are hitting the same partners.

China: Tough pragmatism without provocation

China features prominently in the document, but is no longer demonized as before. Before the strategy's publication, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, while trade negotiations were ongoing, demanded that the language be softened.

However, many in Congress see Beijing as the main long-term threat. And the strategy reflects this. However, the tone is cautious: the administration promises to "rebalance economic relations… prioritizing reciprocity and fairness to restore U.S. economic independence."

Trade should be "balanced and focused on non-sensitive areas," calling for a "truly mutually beneficial economic relationship with Beijing." The Indo-Pacific region is described as a "key zone of economic and geopolitical rivalry."

The US is building up forces to prevent war, especially around Taiwan: "We will maintain our long-standing declaratory policy on Taiwan… without supporting unilateral changes to the status quo."

However, the island's importance is limited to semiconductors and shipping lanes, not the preservation of democracy. Seizing Taiwan would give China access to the Second Island Chain and the South China Sea. The US is calling on its allies in the Far East (such as Japan and the Philippines) to increase defense spending: "The American military cannot and should not do this alone."

Experts like Brookings' Jonathan Ching note that this is a "more favorable signal for Beijing" than under Biden, with a focus on Latin America leaving China room in Asia.

Europe: "civilizational erasure"

Europe received the harshest criticism: the continent is on the brink of "civilizational erasure" due to migration, low birth rates, "censorship and suppression of political opposition," and the "loss of national identities." The document accuses European leaders of "unrealistic expectations" of the war in Ukraine. According to its authors, European countries are suppressing the opposition in defiance of the "foundations of democracy."

"We disagree with European officials... many of whom trample on the basic principles of democracy to suppress the opposition," the document says.

The strategy promises to “cultivate resistance to Europe’s current development vector within European nations” – a peculiar hint at support for right-wing parties.

Migration, according to the authors, is fundamentally changing European identity: “In the long term, it is highly likely that within a few decades at least some NATO members will become predominantly non-European.”

This will call into question their loyalty to the Alliance: “The question remains whether they will perceive their place in the world or their alliance with the United States in the same way as those who signed the NATO charter.”

Ukraine has strengthened "Europe's external dependencies, especially Germany's," and "most Europeans want peace, but this desire is not translated into policy due to the undermining of democratic processes."

Yet the document acknowledges Europe's strength: "We cannot afford to write off Europe - that would be self-destructive."

The goal is to "help Europe correct its current trajectory" by shifting the burden of conventional defense to its allies (as at the June 2025 summit in The Hague, where NATO pledged to spend 5% of GDP on defense by 2035). The United States will remain the "nuclear umbrella," but "the United States cannot and should not bear this burden alone."

Europe reacted quite strongly. Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt wrote on social media that the strategy "puts itself to the right of the European far right"; German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul rejected "external advice" on freedom of speech.

Ukraine and Russia: "Immediate Ceasefire" and Strategic Stability

The most shocking thing is the position on Ukraine and Russia, which has been radically revised compared to 2022. Moscow is no longer an "aggressor" or a "threat," and criticism of Russian aggression has been minimized.

"A rapid cessation of hostilities in Ukraine is a core interest of the United States," the strategy states. The goal is "an immediate end to hostilities in Ukraine to stabilize European economies, prevent the inadvertent escalation or widening of the war, restore strategic stability in relations with Russia, and ensure Ukraine's postwar reconstruction to ensure its survival as a viable state."

The document accuses Europeans of blocking "US efforts to end the conflict" and calls for "reducing the risk of Russian confrontation with other European countries."

This is a departure from the position expressed during Trump's first term, when Russia and China were the "main challenges." Now we have "restoring strategic stability with Russia" and "ending the perception of NATO as an ever-expanding Alliance." Ukraine will receive reconstruction aid, but without the promise of NATO membership. Trump's plan apparently intends to "gift" Russia significant territories in the east, which has already drawn criticism in Kyiv.

"The words 'survival' and 'viability' do not bode well for Kyiv," experts note. The strategy emphasizes that the affairs of other countries concern the United States "only if their activities directly threaten our interests."

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The Middle East, Africa and Global Contradictions

The Middle East and Africa are relegated to the background: the region is described as a "source of investment" where it's time to stop "lecturing the Gulf monarchies about traditions." Israel is valuable because of its trade routes. Africa is given only half a page, focusing on resources—without mentioning China or Russia as competitors in the region.

Dan Caldwell, a former adviser to the Secretary of Defense, sees the strategy as a "break with the illusions of the post-Cold War," while Democrat Gregory Meeks sees it as a "base and unprincipled worldview."

Moscow, however, was delighted with the document. As early as December 7, Vladimir Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, noted: "The amendments we see largely correspond to our vision." He emphasized the rejection of "an ever-expanding NATO," an "immediate end" to the war in Ukraine, and "strategic stability with Russia" instead of confrontation.

"This is a positive signal... a step in the right direction," Peskov added. This is Moscow's first endorsement of the US national security strategy since the Cold War.

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