On December 5, 2025, President Donald Trump’s administration unveiled its much-anticipated National Security Strategy, a 33-page document that signals a dramatic reorientation of America’s foreign and domestic priorities. In language that is both sweeping and provocative, the document lays out what it calls a "Trump Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine—asserting U.S. political, economic, and military will across the Western Hemisphere—and issues a pointed critique of Europe, China, and the very principles of globalization that have shaped the world order for decades.
The strategy, which Trump described as a "roadmap" for ensuring the United States remains "the greatest and most successful nation in human history" (according to BBC), is as notable for its tone as for its substance. Gone is the language of multilateral cooperation that marked the previous administration. In its place is a blunt, America-first vision that seeks to reassert U.S. dominance, particularly in its own hemisphere, and to challenge the assumptions underpinning globalization and mass migration.
At the heart of the strategy is a forceful repudiation of mass migration and globalism. According to Axios, the document blames immigration for many of the world’s current woes, stating, "In countries throughout the world, mass migration has strained domestic resources, increased violence and other crime, weakened social cohesion, distorted labor markets, and undermined national security. The era of mass migration must end." The report goes even further, warning that Europe faces the "prospect of civilizational erasure" within 20 years if current trends continue—a phrase that has already sparked outrage among European leaders.
The document singles out Europe for particular criticism, accusing the continent of undermining peace in Ukraine, subverting democracy at home, and losing its sense of identity. As reported by BBC, the strategy warns, "Should present trends continue, the continent will be unrecognizable in 20 years or less." It cites migration policies, censorship of free speech, cratering birthrates, and the suppression of political opposition as existential threats. The strategy even questions whether some European countries will remain reliable U.S. allies, given what it describes as their economic and military weakness.
German officials were quick to push back. Johann Wadephul, Germany’s foreign minister, responded pointedly that Germany needs "no external advice" on managing its affairs, emphasizing that the NATO alliance should remain focused on security policy. "The United States is and will remain our most important ally in the [Nato] alliance. This alliance, however, is focused on addressing security policy issues," Wadephul told BBC. He added, "I believe questions of freedom of expression or the organisation of our free societies do not belong [in the strategy], in any case at least when it comes to Germany."
The document’s focus on Europe is not only negative, however. It also hails the rise of "patriotic European parties" and encourages America’s political allies in Europe to "promote this revival of spirit." According to BBC, the Trump administration has fostered links with Germany’s far-right AfD party, which has been classified as extreme right by German intelligence—a detail that underscores the administration’s willingness to break with traditional European partners in favor of more nationalist elements.
On the economic front, Trump’s strategy calls for a fundamental reordering of America’s trade relations. It leans heavily on tariffs, seeks to expand access to critical minerals (many of which are found abroad), and promotes a stronger U.S. industrial base with less reliance on foreign technologies. The document accuses American elites of making "hugely misguided and destructive bets on globalism and so-called 'free trade' that hollowed out the very middle class and industrial base on which American economic and military preeminence depend," as reported by Axios. This is a clear signal that the administration intends to double down on protectionist policies and "America First" economic principles.
China, too, comes in for pointed criticism. The strategy dismisses decades of economic engagement with China as a net loss for the average American. "China got rich and powerful, and used its wealth and power to its considerable advantage. American elites—over four successive administrations of both political parties—were either willing enablers of China's strategy or in denial," the document states, according to Axios. The strategy emphasizes the necessity of avoiding military conflict with China through deterrence, particularly in the South China Sea and over Taiwan. It calls for increased defense spending from regional allies like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Taiwan, and makes clear that "deterring a conflict over Taiwan, ideally by preserving military overmatch, is a priority," as BBC reports.
The Trump administration’s approach to military power is equally transformative. The document calls for a "readjustment of our global military presence to address urgent threats in our Hemisphere," which has already manifested in a growing U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. The world’s largest warship, the USS Gerald Ford, is currently based in the region, and the U.S. has conducted repeated deadly strikes on boats alleged to be carrying drugs, according to BBC. The strategy also references "targeted deployments to secure the border and defeat cartels, including where necessary the use of lethal force to replace the failed law enforcement-only strategy of the last several decades," as detailed by USA Today.
This "Trump Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine marks a return to a doctrine first articulated in 1823, which opposed European meddling in the Western Hemisphere and has long been used to justify U.S. interventions in Latin America. The new strategy, however, is more explicit in its intent to reimagine the U.S. military footprint in the region, aiming to build the largest presence there in generations.
On Ukraine, the strategy document states that ending Russia’s nearly four-year war is a core U.S. interest, not only to restore peace but also to "reestablish strategic stability with Russia." The Trump administration has proposed plans to end the war—at one point suggesting Ukraine hand over some territory to Russia’s de facto control, though a modified version was later presented in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the Donbas region or face further escalation, adding another layer of complexity to an already fraught situation.
Despite the administration’s "America First" rhetoric and skepticism of foreign entanglements, the strategy signals a willingness to use military power abroad when it serves U.S. interests. Whether through targeted strikes in the Caribbean or calls for a hardened military presence in the Western Pacific, the Trump administration is making clear that it sees military strength as an essential tool for advancing its vision of national security.
The release of this National Security Strategy marks a watershed moment in U.S. foreign policy. By challenging the pillars of globalization, questioning the reliability of traditional allies, and reasserting American dominance in its own hemisphere, the Trump administration is charting a bold—and, to many, controversial—course for the years ahead. Whether this approach will restore America’s "civilizational self-confidence," as the document hopes, or further isolate the country from its allies, remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the era of U.S. foreign policy as usual is over.