The White House published its 2025 National Security Strategy on December 4th on its official website. The 33-page document is a comprehensive outline of the Trump administration’s vision for U.S. foreign policy, including stricter border laws, a reassertion of the Monroe Doctrine with an additional ‘Trump Corollary’, and the promotion of reestablishing European relations with Russia.
The strategy has received criticism from academics, diplomats, and international news outlets. While the reaction from European authorities has been diplomatic, the general consensus is against the NSS’ priorities for Europe.
What the National Security Strategy means for Europe
The purpose of the National Security Strategy is to make clear to the public and the international community what the administration’s objectives are domestically and externally. Emphasising what the U.S. prioritises, what obstacles may challenge those priorities, who the country views as its greatest allies, and who it may perceive as a threat.
The main goal which is the driving force of the entire document is the administration’s commitment to maintaining the U.S. as
“the world’s strongest, richest, most powerful and most successful country for decades to come.”
The structure of the 2025 NSS aims to clarify what the U.S. objectives should be, what tools and resources are at the country’s disposal to achieve those objectives, and how to develop the two factors into a complete strategy. The document explains the U.S. strategy across the globe, shifting towards a more isolationist foreign policy, stating,
“The affairs of other countries are our concern only if their activities directly threaten our interests.”
Despite heavy criticism toward previous cases of U.S. interventionism since the Cold War, the NSS still advocates for American interference in domestic policy. Namely, advocating for military involvement in South America to prevent migration movement from Latin American countries into the U.S. and justifying the use of lethal force to stop cartel activity.
The evidence for this can be seen in recent events, with the recent capture of a Venezuelan oil tanker, and threats of sending the National Guard across the Mexican border. Another region which the NSS promotes interventionism is shown in the document’s section entitled “Promoting European Greatness”, citing economic deterioration and EU policy as cause for concern.
“Economic decline is eclipsed by the real and more stark prospect of civilizational erasure. The larger issues facing Europe include activities of the European Union and other transnational bodies that undermine political liberty and sovereignty…”
The American strategy for Europe. is clear, mend diplomatic relations with Russia through U.S. mediation, prevent further European integration, and promote far-right parties throughout European nations. The Trump administration’s enthusiasm for the rise of nationalist parties in Europe is made evident,
“growing influence of patriotic European parties indeed gives cause for great optimism.”
What European leaders are saying
One of the first reactions to the strategy came from the EU’s high representative for foreign policy, Kaja Kallas. She spoke on the topic at the Doha forum in Qatar on the 6th. Kallas agreed with the notion of Europe’s lack of self-confidence, stating that Europe should not underestimate its power, mentioning the threat of Russia as an example. However, her main takeaway was that the U.S. remains a strong ally of the EU.
“The U.S. is still our biggest ally, we haven’t seen eye-to-eye on different topics. But the overall principle is there: we are the biggest allies and we should stick together”
The president of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, argued that the U.S.’ understanding should not shift Europe’s vision of free expression, stressing that Europe should remain sovereign in that regard. At the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris, Costa stated,
“We need to focus on building a Europe that must understand that the relationships between allies and Post World War II allies have changed.”
Sebastian Hille, Deputy Spokesperson of the German Government spoke in Berlin, stating that the NSS was more of an ideological document rather than a full-fledged strategy. He shared Costa’s view of political freedoms, stating that freedom of expression is part of “the fundamental values of the EU.” He also spoke against the NSS’ understanding of Russia as a partner, stating,
“We stand by NATO’s joint analysis, according to which Russia is a danger and a threat to Trans-Atlantic security.”
In Mainz, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also spoke up, asserting that parts of the strategy are “unacceptable” especially from the perspective of Europe. Merz highlighted the importance of Europe being less dependent on America. Furthermore, Merz was against the notion of the U.S. as a savior of European democracy, stating,
“That the Americans want to save democracy in Europe now, I don’t see any need for that, if it needed to be saved, we would manage that alone.”
U.S. relations with Europe moving forward
While the alliance between the European Union and the United States has been a pillar for the West since the end of the second World War, the shift seems very evident. Europe seems eager to maintain diplomatic relations with America, but is fair to express concern when U.S. strategy threatens domestic affairs and challenges European norms and values. The strategic priorities for both world powers are evolving, and their paths moving forward are diverging, slowly but surely.
