Image source, Reuters
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- author, Brandon Livesay
- Author title, BBC News
President Donald Trump’s administration has warned that Europe is facing a “civilizational collapse” and questioned whether certain countries can remain reliable allies, in a new strategy document that pays special attention to the continent.
In the 33-page National Security Strategy, the American leader outlines his vision for the world and explains how he will use the military and economic power of the United States to work toward achieving it.
Trump described the document as a “road map” to ensure that the United States remains “the greatest and most successful country in the history of mankind.”
European politicians have begun to respond, with German Foreign Minister Johan Wadevoll stating that his country does not need “external advice.”
Presidents typically issue a formal national security strategy once per presidential term. This could serve as a framework for future policies and budgets, as well as inform the world of the president’s priorities.
The new document follows a similar speech to Trump’s to the United Nations earlier this year, in which he harshly criticized Western Europe and its approach to immigration and clean energy.
The new report reinforces Trump’s view, calling for restoring “Western identity,” combating foreign influence, putting an end to mass immigration and focusing more on American priorities, such as combating drug cartels.
Focusing on Europe, he claims that if current trends continue, the continent “will be unrecognizable in 20 years or less” and its economic problems will be overshadowed by “the real and most obvious possibility of the demise of civilization.”
“It is not at all clear that some European countries will have economies and militaries strong enough to remain reliable allies,” the document says.
It also accuses the European Union and “other transnational bodies” of activities that “undermine political freedom and sovereignty,” claims that immigration policies “create tensions,” and notes that other problems include “censorship of freedom of expression and suppression of political opposition, low birth rates, and loss of national identities and self-confidence.”
On the contrary, the document praises the growing influence of “European national parties” and states that “the United States encourages its political allies in Europe to promote this revival of the spirit.”
The Trump administration has strengthened relations with the far-right Alternative for Germany party in Germany, which German intelligence services have classified as far-right.
German Foreign Minister Wadevoll stressed that “the United States has been and will remain the most important ally in NATO. However, this alliance focuses on addressing security policy issues.”
He added: “I believe that issues related to freedom of expression or organizing our free societies have no place (in the strategy), at least for Germany.”
Image source, Jaime Reyna/AFP via Getty Images
Referring to Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the document states that Europe lacks “self-confidence” in its relationship with Russia.
Managing European relations with Russia will require significant US involvement, according to the document, which adds that ending hostilities in Ukraine is a core US interest.
The Trump administration proposed a plan to end the war, the original version of which called for Ukraine to cede part of its territory to Russia for effective control. But Trump’s envoy presented a modified version in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Ukrainian forces must withdraw from the eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it by force.
The White House strategy document makes frequent references to the Western Hemisphere and the need for the United States to protect itself from external threats.
The document states that there must be a realignment of “our global military presence to address urgent threats in our hemisphere.” To do this, the strategy requires removing assets from theaters that are no longer of significant importance to US national security.
This reprioritization of military power can already be seen in the Caribbean, where the US military has a growing presence and has carried out repeated deadly attacks on ships the government says are transporting drugs. The world’s largest warship, the USS Gerald Ford, is currently stationed in the Caribbean along with its strike group.
Outside the Western Hemisphere, the Trump administration is highlighting the South China Sea as a key sea lane with significant implications for the US economy, and the document states that the United States will “tighten and enhance its military presence in the Western Pacific.”
The United States is also calling for increased defense spending from Japan, South Korea, Australia and Taiwan.
He states that “deterring conflict over Taiwan, while maintaining military superiority, is a priority.” China considers self-governing Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to “reunify” it with it.
The strategy also talks about fostering a stronger manufacturing base in the United States and reducing reliance on foreign technologies, which coincides with some of the actions the Trump administration has taken with its wide-ranging global tariffs.
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