Trump is redefining US power – and leaving Europe well behind

“Peace through strength”

The strategy emphasizes sovereignty, Border controlprotection from “destabilizing migration movements” as well as expansion military and economic strength. The 15,000 soldiers in front of Venezuela massively underline this plan. Basic pillars: “Securing peace through strength”, a fundamental inclination towards non-interventionism and a “flexible realism” that expressly allows good relations even with states without a democratic order. Multilateral institutions only play a minor role.

The two Americas should be considered priority zone of influence for the USA be secured – against migration, drug trafficking and against the acquisition of strategic infrastructure by rivals. Europa However, it appears comparatively briefly: the paper talks about economic decline, regulatory “strangulation” and the danger of “civilizational extinction”.

The US government demands that Europe primarily pay for its own defense; Washington wants to concentrate on selected points that are strategic from an American perspective and offer European partners conditions rather than guarantees.

At the same time, they want to support “patriotic parties”, which is causing a lot of criticism from various governments. Much of the security strategy coincides with what US Vice President JD Vance said at the Munich Security Conference in February. The time of secure support for Europe is over – the strategy documents this in black and white. In contrast, Washington executes in proportion to Russia another change of course.

Moscow is no longer described as a central threat, but rather as an actor with whom strategic stability should be restored and the war in Ukraine ended through negotiations. The NATO expansion is becoming critical seen; The perception of Russia as a “permanently expanding” alliance should be defused.

Encouragement from Moscow

The The Kremlin has the document unusual commented positively and explains that it largely corresponds to his own view. The fact that Europe and the USA had to counter Russian aggression together was still considered a strategy in Trump’s first term in office.

China remains the most important reference point in Asia, but is predominantly seen as an economic competitor. The security strategy calls for a “readjustment” of economic relations, but at the same time a military deterrence around Taiwan and along the so-called “First Island Chain” from Japan to the Philippines. Beijing reacted sharply and emphasized that Taiwan remain a red line; In Washington, the strategy is portrayed as an attempt to prevent conflict by strengthening regional alliances. What is also noteworthy is what is missing or fades into the background.

The Middle East is significantly downgraded; Long-standing goals such as the denuclearization of North Korea no longer appear in the text, fueling speculation about new diplomatic initiatives. Climate policy and multilateral institutions are practically non-existent. Critics therefore speak of a political manifesto of the “MAGA” movement rather than a classic specialist strategy.