The U.S. "Congressional Hill" and the UK's "Financial Times" reported that on December 5 local time, the United States released a new national security strategy, emphasizing strengthening military presence in the Western Hemisphere, calling for cultivating resistance forces in Europe and winning the cultural war in Europe. Once released, the strategy quickly drew opposition from Democrats and European countries.

The document was unexpectedly released on the early morning of the 5th local time without prior notice. It has 33 pages and is the first national security strategy issued since Trump's second term. In the document, the European continent is portrayed as a region where economic decline is secondary, with a more serious reality being the threat of civilization's demise.

The document defines the U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere as its top priority, calling for adjusting the U.S. military deployment to address urgent threats in the Western Hemisphere, rather than from regions that have relatively decreased in importance to U.S. national security in recent decades or years.

The strategy's attitude towards Europe is an "upgraded version" of the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, which declared the Western Hemisphere as America's sphere of influence.

This strategy echoes Vice President Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference in February this year, when his "hostile tone" and remarks that "the greatest threat facing Europe comes from its own democratic shortcomings rather than Russian aggression" shocked European allies.

The report pointed out that the strategy highlights the complete shift in U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration, as well as the growing ideological divide between Washington and traditional allies. Compared to the previous national security strategy under the Biden administration, this new strategy significantly weakens the wording of countering China and Russia, prioritizing the Western Hemisphere as a strategic "core critical interest."

Local time February 14, 2025, Munich, Germany, Vance speaking at the 61st Munich Security Conference. Visual China

Once released, the strategy quickly drew opposition from Democrats and European countries. Democrats criticized it as a "dangerous blueprint" for the U.S. retreating on the global stage, which would weaken the strength of the U.S. and its allies.

"If this plan were to be implemented, the world would become much more dangerous, and the safety of American citizens would lose more protection," said Jason Crow, a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Committee on Armed Services, and a Democratic congressman from Colorado.

He wrote, "Among many troubling aspects of this strategy, the explicit call for social engineering, inciting cultural wars, and interfering with the foreign policies and political systems of our allies stand out most prominently. This is an attack on freedom and individual rights at home and abroad."

Richard Blumenthal, a senator from Connecticut and a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, also said, "This strategy heralds a series of regressions: abandoning allies, sacrificing Ukraine, giving up key strategic goals and fundamental values. This will only make America weaker, not safer. 'America First' is actually 'America Isolated,' and we will ultimately pay the price for it."

On December 5 local time, German Foreign Minister Baerbock responded to the strategy, stating that Europe "does not need external advice." Regarding the comments in the document about freedom of speech and immigration issues in Europe, he said, "We believe we can completely discuss and debate these issues independently in the future."

Hart, a spokesperson for the foreign policy of the ruling party "Union," criticized, "Trump's assessment of Europe is very one-sided, which may be because he received information from wrong sources like right-wing extremist parties in Europe." He expressed concern about the new strategy, saying that Trump "wants to actively intervene in the political activities of EU member states," adding, "We do not interfere in the U.S., and we hope the U.S. will not interfere in Germany."

Former French ambassador to the U.S., Gerhard Araud, said, "The chapter on Europe in the document is shocking, reading like a far-right propaganda booklet." He mentioned that a recent survey showed nearly half of Europeans consider Trump as "an enemy of Europe."

Valérie Hayer, president of the center-right group "Renew Europe" in the European Parliament and a French MP, said on X that the wording in this document regarding Europe was "exceptionally hostile" and "unacceptable and dangerous."

"The Trump administration has no right to interfere in our internal affairs. It has no right to question the composition, values, and democratic choices of the EU. It has no right to try to introduce the anti-immigrant and ultra-conservative ideas of the MAGA movement into our territory... This new strategy confirms that the Trump administration is an enemy of Europe. We must stop dealing with it insincerely," Hayer wrote.

According to the report, the strategy document attributes the risk of Europe's "civilization demise" to the dual dilemmas Europe is currently facing: one is the high volume of immigration, and the other is the long-term low birth rate. The document also blames European officials for the obstacles in the U.S. efforts to end the war in Ukraine, accusing European governments of ignoring what they call the "majority of European people's" peace demands.

It stated that "quickly stopping hostilities" is crucial, which "can stabilize the European economy, prevent unintended escalation or spread of the conflict, and rebuild strategic stability with Russia." What especially worries Europe is that the document does not criticize Russia while criticizing traditional allies.

The document even directly challenges the EU, claiming that the U.S. should "cultivate forces resisting the current development trajectory of European countries"; the document also praises the growing political influence of far-right populist parties in Europe, arguing that if such parties come to power in multiple EU countries, they could pose a threat to the future of the EU.

The document claims, "U.S. diplomacy should continue to defend true democracy, freedom of speech, and a firm promotion of the unique national characteristics and history of European countries." It says, "The U.S. encourages its political allies in Europe to promote this spirit of revival, and the increasing influence of patriotic parties in Europe undoubtedly brings great optimism for the future."

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7580571632385704494/

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