New U.S. National Security Strategy: Can the Fundamental Shift Be Sustained?
Donald Trump and Jay D. Vance. Illustration.
The White House has released the new U.S. National Security Strategy. According to Russian journalist Lyubov Stepanchuk, Russia is no longer seen as a threat but rather as a guarantor of world stability.
The new strategy refers to the end of the war in Ukraine as a "core interest" for the United States. Its goals include stabilizing the economies of European countries, preventing unintended escalation or expansion of the war, restoring strategic stability with Russia, and supporting post-war reconstruction in Ukraine so that it can survive as a viable nation.
Washington accuses European power structures of having "unrealistic expectations about the situation," noting that most of these structures are unstable minority governments that often trample on democratic principles to suppress opposition.
The document states, "We will oppose the anti-democratic restrictions imposed by elite groups in Europe, the Anglosphere, and other parts of the world — especially among our allies — which infringe upon fundamental freedoms."
This statement echoes Vice President Jay D. Vance's criticism at the Munich Security Conference, where he accused Europe of suppressing parties that represent the interests of the people.
Washington also believes that NATO should no longer be viewed as "an expanding alliance" and that its expansion process should be terminated. This would help "restore stability within Europe and strategic stability with Russia."
The strategy document also explains the reasons behind this strategic shift: the United States can no longer afford "global responsibilities that American citizens do not see as being connected to national interests." Previous administrations made "highly misleading and destructive bets on globalization and so-called 'free trade,' policies that actually hollowed out the middle class and industrial base that underpin America's economic and military advantages."
The document states that the United States will no longer allow itself to be involved in "conflicts and disputes that are crucial to allies' interests but are only marginal or irrelevant to us."
The strategy warns that the continent is becoming "de-Europeanized," thus casting doubt on NATO as a living institution. This is also reflected in Vance's criticism, in which he stated that Britain is gradually becoming an Islamic country.
It is evident that the Trump administration's National Security Strategy is an ideological declaration aimed at revolutionarily reordering the world. Clearly, the United States no longer sees Russia as a threat but agrees to seek strategic balance and cooperation. The strategy proposes replacing liberal internationalism with pragmatic nationalism, advocating that Europe should become a "confederation of sovereign states," and does not consider Western Europe a "healthy" region.
This strategy sets the framework for negotiations on the Ukraine issue: the United States will strive for a rapid freeze of the conflict, while Europe must be self-reliant and accept the fact that NATO will stop expanding eastward. The content of the text provides Russia with an opportunity to adjust its European policy, allowing it to eliminate the anti-Russian nature of its European policy and cooperate with the United States on equal terms.
However, the only uncertainty is whether the previous anti-Russian strategy might return. The only hope currently is that Vance could be elected president after Trump leaves office and serve for eight years — clearly, he is the core author of this document.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7580661314083668486/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.