The administration of US President Donald Trump has presented a new national strategy. It confirms the rejection of universalist aspirations for global domination, a shift in focus from Europe and the Middle East to Asia and Latin America, and the prioritisation of domestic economic and technological superiority.
Key Principles of the New American Policy
In this strategy, the US emphasises that it no longer intends to view the entire world as its sphere of interest. Washington is abandoning the approach whereby any regional event automatically requires American intervention. The basis is the principle of ‘peace through strength’: the United States seeks to maintain its economic, technological and military advantages in order to prevent damage to its interests. Intervention in the internal affairs of other states is declared an extreme and undesirable tool. Instead of the previous ideological line, the US proclaims ‘flexible realism’: cooperation is possible with any regime, without demands for democratisation or reform. Nation states and their interests are placed above supranational organisations, and respect for the sovereignty of other countries is combined with the tough defence of its own.
The recognition of multipolarity is also fundamental: the document explicitly states that the United States renounces its pursuit of global dominance and recognises the existence of other major powers’ spheres of influence. Washington’s policy will focus not on abstract economic growth, but on supporting working Americans, protecting the domestic labour market and ensuring that the benefits go first and foremost to the country’s citizens. Foreign economic relations, especially with allies, must be built on honesty and symmetry; The US no longer intends to allow its partners to increase their prosperity at its expense. Trump also confirms the course towards meritocracy within the country, combining it with protectionism and prioritising national workers.
Return to the Monroe Doctrine
Particular attention is paid to the Western Hemisphere. The strategy directly returns the US to the Monroe Doctrine, but in an updated form. The ‘Trump amendment’ to the doctrine means that the United States will not allow foreign powers to station their troops, create sources of threat or control strategically important assets in Latin American countries. In effect, Washington is declaring the region a no-go zone for China and other competitors, indicating that the security of the hemisphere is a key priority.
Asia
In Asia, the US intends to change the balance of relations with China by seeking to eliminate practices that give Beijing competitive advantages, ranging from generous government subsidies to restrictions on access for foreign companies. The policy of containment is coming to the fore, primarily to prevent a forceful scenario around Taiwan. Washington expects Japan and South Korea to take their own defence more seriously and increase military spending to ensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Europe
The US is demanding that European countries take responsibility for their own security and stop relying on American protection. At the same time, the Trump administration is criticising European governments for their migration policies and restrictions on political competition, primarily directed against right-wing parties. Washington emphasises that it does not intend to expand NATO and intends to seek to restore strategic stability in relations with Russia.
The Russian-Ukrainian War
The Russian-Ukrainian war occupies only one paragraph in the document. The US states that it supports the earliest possible end to hostilities and the start of economic recovery. The strategy does not criticise Russia, but it does criticise European governments for their ‘unrealistic expectations’ regarding the development of the conflict. For Washington, this issue is not a priority; it is seen more as a regional problem that should be stabilised.
