If a European country becomes ‘majority non-European’, the strategy says Washington would reconsider its alliance
If any European leader hoped they could woo the US president with gifts, flattery and promises of defence spending, America’s new “National Security Strategy” is a stark reminder of what the Trump administration really sees: the death of European civilisation. It will take more than oaths and words of honour to convince him otherwise.
In a 33-page document quietly released on Thursday in the US, the Trump administration reveals it wants to restore “European greatness” to a continent it sees as plagued by economic decline and the “stark prospect of civilisational erasure.”
Each new administration traditionally releases its National Security Strategy at the start of its term, a way to guide its future budget and policies for the next few years. It comes before the “National Defense Strategy”, which ultimately feeds into the “Global Posture Review” – the White House’s plan on stationing (or withdrawing) US troops around the world, which has had Europeans fretting for months.
The bulk of the newly released approach sets out plans for wars on drugs, migration, and China’s economic power and supply chain superiority around the world. The chapter on Europe is more focused on criticising the way Europeans live, spend their money, and vote.
Germany receives a special shout-out. In true Trump fashion, the European continent’s largest economy is the target of dedicated criticism for its trade relations with China, and for buying energy from Russia.
Germany’s foreign minister said Friday the country does not need “outside advice,” according to the AFP. Asked about the strategy, Johann Wadephul stressed that 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.”
Across three pages, the US administration promotes “patriotic European parties”, calls out “unstable minority governments”, criticises “loss of national identities and self-confidence”, and, of course, targets the European Union.
“We want Europe to remain European, to regain its civilisational self-confidence, and to abandon its failed focus on regulatory suffocation,” the document reads, which can be interpreted as another example of disdain for EU tech policies and a hint at Trump’s nostalgia for what he considered a more grandiose Europe.
The European Commission declined to comment in detail on the strategy on Friday. “We’re not yet in a position to comment on any of it,” Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho told reporters.
Asked by Euractiv whether the Commission agreed with the strategy’s claim that the EU is a “transnational body that undermines political liberty and sovereignty,” Pinho replied: “Absolutely not.”
On free speech, she added that Brussels and Washington “have agreed to disagree with the way that some people in the US look at our legislation.”
Pick the best Europeans, leave the rest
While the US casts Europe in bleak terms, it nevertheless has no intention of abandoning it. The document makes that clear. That is because Europe is essential to the US pursuit of dominance in the Western Hemisphere’s economy.
Among the ways to do that is by ending the war in Ukraine and by avoiding further conflicts with Russia, which the strategy claims will “stabilise” the continent’s economy.
But it is obvious the Trump administration will pick and choose its allies based on how each country’s politics, economy, and military strength evolve after pledges to spend 5% GDP on the military.
In a nutshell: they’ll work with “aligned countries that want to restore their former greatness.”
Being a NATO military ally or a long-term partner won’t make you a “reliable” friend if you don’t have a strong military and economy, they write. And if you become “majority non-European”, which is something the US administration is convinced will happen to some NATO members, your alliance with the US will be rethought.
So the US’ strategy is to bring Europe to stand on its own feet, which includes taking care of its own defence, and moving away from China.
The document also gives a short preview of what to expect from the National Defense Strategy and the Global Posture Review now expected this month.
There will be a reconsideration of the US military presence in the Western Hemisphere, and the US must work towards ending the expansion of the NATO alliance – crushing Ukraine’s hopes for membership for the foreseeable future.
