US President Donald Trump’s National Security Strategy (NSS) should be an eyeopener for all Americans. Unfortunately many will not understand and even more will not care. Perhaps the most significant point is that in 33 pages the words democracy and freedom can be found only in passing However, the words American domination are peppered throughout.
It also references the Monroe Doctrine, an antiquated concept from the 19th century when America was not yet a player in global politics, but began to exhibit a predilection to imperialism in its own sphere.
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The biggest beneficiary on the NSS is Russia and the most disparaged is the European Union and with it the European continent – including Ukraine which is mentioned in passing. No blame is accorded to Russia for its invasion. The Doctrine disingenuously laments some of the fallout from the war.
“The Trump Administration finds itself at odds with European officials who hold unrealistic expectations for the war [in Ukraine] perched in unstable minority governments, many of which trample on basic principles of democracy to suppress opposition. A large European majority wants peace, yet that desire is not translated into policy, in large measure because of those governments’ subversion of democratic processes. This is strategically important to the United States precisely because European states cannot reform themselves if they are trapped in political crisis.
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Yet Europe remains strategically and culturally vital to the United States. Transatlantic trade remains one of the pillars of the global economy and of American prosperity... Not only can we not afford to write Europe off – doing so would be self-defeating for what this strategy aims to achieve.
Vladimir Putin could not have written a better script for Russian rehabilitation.
American diplomacy should continue to stand up for genuine democracy, freedom of expression, and unapologetic celebrations of European nations’ individual character and history. America encourages its political allies in Europe to promote this revival of spirit, and the growing influence of patriotic European parties indeed gives cause for great optimism.
Our goal should be to help Europe correct its current trajectory. We will need a strong Europe to help us successfully compete, and to work in concert with us to prevent any adversary from dominating Europe.
America is, understandably, sentimentally attached to the European continent – and, of course, to Britain and Ireland. The character of these countries is also strategically important because we count upon creative, capable, confident, democratic allies to establish conditions of stability and security We want to work with aligned countries that want to restore their former greatness.
Over the long term, it is more than plausible that within a few decades at the latest, certain NATO members will become majority non-European. As such, it is an open question whether they will view their place in the world, or their alliance with the United States, in the same way as those who signed the NATO charter.”
On the issue of democracy in Europe and trampling of democratic processes, 12 of the 27 EU countries rank higher than America on the Human Rights Index for 2024. The 2025 grade for America will be significantly worse as no world leader in a democracy has trampled more on democratic processes and institution than Donald J. Trump. Both houses of Congress have been missing in action completely, except for rubber stamping.
America has no business lending support to right-wing extremist parties in Europe. It has its own problems with the Republican party, which today hardly resembles the party of Abraham Lincoln or Ronald Reagan.
Clearly the President never studied geography or failed the course. Otherwise, he would know that the only two non-European countries in NATO are the United States and Canada. The latest members are Finland and Sweden, both European.
As to Russia not being an existential threat for Europe, I would submit that a simple visit to Europe and conversations with the people there should convince the MAGA primitives otherwise. The fear in Europe associated with the war in Ukraine is very palpable. The doctrine on Europe concludes:
“Our broad policy for Europe should prioritize:
• Reestablishing conditions of stability within Europe and strategic stability with Russia;
• Ending the perception, and preventing the reality, of NATO as a perpetually expanding alliance.”
Good for Russia! Vladimir Putin could not have written a better script for Russian rehabilitation.
However, the crucial point is that spheres of influence as per the Monroe Doctrine are afforded to America, Russia and probably China. That’s the map for imperialists and contravenes basic principles of international law and the sovereignty of nations. That may suit Trump, Putin and Xi, but it’s a problem for other nations.
Okay! So, Trump is a primitive, but he is the president of the richest and allegedly strongest country in the world. And words matter, even those of this primitive doctrine. The signal to the world is that America has lost its mind.
The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.
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