The Trump administration blamed much of America's and the world's current woes on immigration in an explosive new national security document that accuses Europe of undermining peace in Ukraine and China of ripping off the U.S.
Why it matters: The National Security Strategy, released Friday morning, asserts a "'Trump Corollary' to the Monroe Doctrine" that declares the U.S. will assert its political, economic and military will across the Western Hemisphere.
- The strategy lays out President Trump's vision for the global order, where America asserts dominance over its hemisphere, refocuses on competing with China while avoiding war, and deprioritizes engagement with large parts of the globe, including Africa.
- "The days of the United States propping up the entire world order like Atlas are over," the strategy says.
Between the lines: There is a gap between the strategy and Trump's actual policy a year into his second administration.
- His plan to head a governing board for Gaza, for example, seems misaligned with the strategy of shifting away from nation-building in the Middle East.
What they're saying: At the root of many of the world's problems lies immigration, according to Trump. Mass migration is changing the culture and economies of the world's traditional powers, undermining their dominance.
- "In countries throughout the world, mass migration has strained domestic resources, increased violence and other crime, weakened social cohesion, distorted labor markets, and undermined national security. The era of mass migration must end," the strategy says.
Trump's economic vision
Zoom out: Trump's economic vision for this revised world order depends on reorienting America's trade relations with other nations, leaning heavily on his tariffs agenda and ensuring Americans' access to goods.
- At the same time, the document also accuses American "elites" of making "hugely misguided and destructive bets on globalism and so-called 'free trade' that hollowed out the very middle class and industrial base on which American economic and military preeminence depend."
- Trump also insists America expand its access to critical minerals, which are predominantly found in other countries. That could clash with his pledge to keep the U.S. out of foreign entanglements.
Trump bashes Europe
While America is "sentimentally attached to the European continent— and, of course, to Britain and Ireland," Trump's security strategy bashes Europe, accusing it of undermining peace in Ukraine and subverting democracy at home.
- "The Trump Administration finds itself at odds with European officials who hold unrealistic expectations for the war perched in unstable minority governments, many of which trample on basic principles of democracy to suppress opposition," the document says.
- "The larger issues facing Europe include activities of the European Union and other transnational bodies that undermine political liberty and sovereignty, migration policies that are transforming the continent and creating strife, censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition, cratering birthrates, and loss of national identities and self-confidence," the strategy says.
- "Should present trends continue, the continent will be unrecognizable in 20 years or less."
- Germany needs "no external advice" on managing its affairs, the country's foreign minister Johann Wadephul said, according to an online translation of his comments.
Trump on China
Zoom in: The security strategy also dismisses years of economic engagement with China as a net loss for the average American.
- American efforts to bring China into a "rules-based order" only strengthened the communist country at the expense of the U.S., according to Trump.
- "China got rich and powerful, and used its wealth and power to its considerable advantage. American elites—over four successive administrations of both political parties—were either willing enablers of China's strategy or in denial," the strategy said.
- The strategy also highlights the necessity of avoiding military conflict with China, largely through deterrence. On Taiwan, it says the administration will stick with the longstanding policy of opposing a unilateral Chinese takeover without saying whether the U.S. would respond militarily.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from Germany.
