Trump’s NSS: Europe Allies & Africa Neglect – US First?

The United States’ new National Security Strategy outlines a plan to “dominate the Americas, respect China, undermine Europe, ignore India, retreat from the Middle East, and not give a damn for Africa,” according to former Norwegian peace negotiator and Minister of International Development, Erik Solheim.

Reasserting the Monroe Doctrine

The strategy explicitly states the U.S. will “reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere,” a policy dating back to 1823 that proclaimed the Americas as an exclusive U.S. sphere of influence. The document aims to prevent competitors from positioning forces within the hemisphere.

Departing from Global Domination

The National Security Strategy diverges from a post-Cold War goal of “permanent American domination of the entire world,” stating the U.S. should not attempt to impose its influence – particularly its liberal order – on regions like the Middle East, Asia, or Africa.

Criticism of Europe

The strategy is highly critical of Europe, predicting “civilisational erasure” unless the U.S. intervenes. It blames the European Union for stifling business with regulations and undermining national sovereignty, citing migration policies, restrictions on free speech, declining birthrates, and a loss of national identity. The accusation of censoring free speech echoes recent comments by Vice-President JD Vance.

The strategy welcomes “the growing influence of patriotic European parties” and pledges U.S. support for them, aiming to “cultivate resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations.”

Approach to Asia and China

Regarding Asia, the strategy adopts a more conventional U.S. approach focused on containing China. It asserts that previous U.S. policies of opening markets and outsourcing manufacturing to China did not lead to China’s integration into the “rules-based international order.” The U.S. aims to enlist nations like India to prevent them from becoming subordinate to China and to bolster Indo-Pacific security through the Quad alliance with Australia, Japan, and the U.S.

Middle East Shift

The strategy declares that the era of the Middle East dominating American foreign policy is “thankfully over,” citing U.S. energy independence and the region’s reduced potential for “imminent catastrophe.” It credits the Abraham Accords and actions against Iran with stabilizing the region, including a ceasefire in Gaza.

Africa as an Afterthought

Africa is given limited attention in the strategy. The administration will move away from “spreading liberal ideology,” instead focusing on partnerships to address conflict, foster trade, and invest in Africa’s natural resources. This aligns with the administration’s decision to scrap the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAid).

International Reaction

European Council president António Costa stated the EU would not tolerate “political interference,” emphasizing that “allies do not threaten to interfere in the political life or the internal democratic choices of other allies.”

Torrey Taussig, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, argued the strategy undermined U.S. interests in Europe by downplaying the threat posed by Russia and potentially emboldening anti-defense parties.

Rama Yade, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center, noted the strategy articulated a more interventionist security policy, citing recent strikes in Somalia and potential future involvement in conflicts in Sudan and the DRC-Rwanda region.

Solheim characterized the National Security Strategy as signaling the emergence of a multipolar world, with the U.S. no longer able to dominate globally. He urged Europe to “stand up, unite, defend our values, integrate and achieve strategic autonomy from the US” and Africa to seek partnerships with China and other nations.