Trump continues to criticize Europe distancing himself from it and turning towards Latin America
Donald Trump on Friday laid out a strategy based on a radical shift in US foreign policy that shifts the focus of the superpower from the global arena to the regional neighborhood, foreshadows the demise of European civilization and makes curbing mass migration a top priority.
Based on a national security document that outlines an out-of-the-ordinary view of the world, Latin America is at the top of the US agenda in a radical shift from its historic call to focus on Asia in the face of China’s rise, with the current administration’s interest in the Middle East plummeting.
In a preface to the long-awaited document, Trump said, “In everything we do, we put America first”.
In a break with decades of efforts to monopolize the position of a superpower, the strategy asserts that the United States refuses to pursue the ominous principle of world domination on its own.
While the document suggests that the United States will prevent other powers, particularly China, from dominating as well, asserting that doesn’t mean wasting blood and money to limit the influence of all the world’s great and medium powers.
The strategy pledged to “adjust our global military presence to deal with immediate threats in the part of the globe where we are, starting with migration”.
The strategy asserts that the era of mass migration must end, and it also explains that the United States under Trump will pursue similar goals in Europe, consistent with the agendas of far-right parties.
In unfamiliar language when addressing close allies, the strategy suggests that the administration will work to “develop resistance to Europe’s current course within European countries themselves”.
As Trump seeks to end the war in Ukraine under a plan that would give Russia more territory, the strategy accuses the Europeans of weakness and stresses that the United States should focus on erasing the impression that NATO is an uninterrupted expanding alliance, and preventing that from materializing on the ground.
Since returning to power in January, Trump has ordered a significant reduction in immigration after a political career built on raising fears of the decline of the white majority’s influence and status.
The strategy speaks explicitly about consolidating US dominance in Latin America, where the Trump administration targets supposed drug traffickers at sea, intervenes against leftist leaders and openly seeks control of key resources such as the Panama Canal.
The strategy shows Trump updating the two-century-old Monroe Doctrine, under which the then-fledgling United States declared Latin America a no-go zone for rival powers.
In contrast, the strategy pays less attention to the Middle East, a region that has long occupied Washington.
Referring to US efforts to increase energy supplies at home rather than from the Gulf, the strategy states that “America’s historic goal of focusing on the Middle East will be reversed”.
While reminding that Israel’s security is a priority for Washington, the document avoids using the same language toward Israel that was used even in the first Trump administration.
As for China, the strategy reiterates the call for the Asia-Pacific region to be free and open with a focus on Beijing as an economic competitor in the first place.
After much speculation about what Trump’s stance on Taiwan demanded by Beijing will be, the strategy makes clear that the United States supports the status quo for decades but calls on its allies Japan and South Korea to contribute more to ensure Taiwan can defend itself against China.
Predictably, the strategy focuses less on Africa, saying the United States should move away from liberal thinking and an aid-based relationship and emphasize goals such as securing vital minerals.
US presidents typically issue a national security strategy in each of their White House mandates.
The latter, published by Joe Biden in 2022, prioritized out-of-competition with China while reining in Russia, which has been described as dangerous.
