© EPA/ AARON SCHWARTZ / POOL The onus of concluding Russia’s conflict against Ukraine largely rests on Europe.
On the specified date of Friday, January 23, the Department of Defense revealed a revamped US National Defense Strategy. This document redefined priorities, urging American allies to oversee their own security and asserting that the administration under the present US President, Donald Trump, is geared towards dominance within the Western Hemisphere.
The 34-page paper assumed a markedly political character for a military blueprint, scrutinizing partners spanning from Europe to Asia for depending on past U.S. governments to finance their defense. The updated strategy advocates for “a substantial alteration in methodology, emphasis, and communication.” It unambiguously stipulates that U.S. allies must shoulder greater accountability in combating adversaries, encompassing Russia and North Korea.
“For a considerable period, the U.S. government has disregarded, even dismissed, the importance of Americans and their distinct interests,” the paper commences.
Europe, Russian menace, Russia's war against Ukraine
While the defense strategy posits that “Russia will endure as a consistent yet manageable threat to NATO’s eastern members in the foreseeable future,” it also declares that NATO allies—particularly the more robust ones—“are suitably positioned to accept principal responsibility for Europe’s traditional defense.”
“Indeed, despite Russia grappling with diverse demographic and economic challenges, its protracted conflict against Ukraine underscores its continued possession of noteworthy reserves in military and industrial capacity. Furthermore, Russia has exhibited the requisite national determination to prosecute a prolonged war within its immediate neighborhood,” the paper elucidates.
“In addition, despite the Russian military threat primarily targeting Eastern Europe, Russia also holds the world’s most expansive nuclear arsenal, which it consistently modernizes and diversifies, coupled with undersea, space, and cyber proficiencies that it can utilize against the U.S. homeland. Consequently, the Pentagon will assure the preparedness of U.S. armed forces to safeguard the U.S. homeland from Russian threats,” the strategy further specifies.
The obligation to settle the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine falls primarily on Europe.
“Our NATO allies are consequently ideally situated to undertake the main responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense, with vital but more constrained support from the United States. This incorporates assuming a pivotal role in upholding Ukraine’s defense. As President Trump has articulated, the war in Ukraine must cease. Nevertheless, as he has also emphasized, this fundamentally constitutes Europe’s obligation. Therefore, the leadership and dedication of our NATO allies are requisite to ensure and uphold peace,” the document outlines.
The Pentagon will maintain a crucial function within NATO, even as the US “reconfigures the deployment and activities of American forces within the European theater” to concentrate on priorities closer to home.
The US has previously verified its intent to curtail its military footprint on NATO's borders with Ukraine – allies are voicing unease that the Trump administration might drastically diminish its troop presence on the continent, potentially resulting in a security void as European nations contend with an increasingly aggressive Russia.
“And while Europe retains significance, its proportion of global economic influence is diminishing and remains on a downward trajectory. It follows that while we are steadfastly committed to Europe, we must and will prioritize the defense of the US homeland and the restriction of China,” as stated in one of the excerpts from the document, which articulates the US call for “enhanced burden sharing with allies and partners.”
Occident
The strategy necessitates aid from partners in America’s “domain,” while cautioning them that the United States will “proactively and fearlessly safeguard America’s interests across the Western Hemisphere.”
The document makes explicit mention of access to the Panama Canal and Greenland — following Trump’s declaration of reaching a preliminary agreement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte concerning Arctic security, which would grant the US “unrestricted access” to Greenland, an autonomous territory under NATO ally Denmark.
Trump previously proposed that the United States ought to contemplate reclaiming command over the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of transferring authority over the essential waterway to China. When questioned this week about whether the U.S. was still weighing the possibility of regaining control over the canal, Trump responded: “I prefer not to disclose that. I would affirm that it is under consideration.”
The Pentagon also communicated its endorsement of the operation that apprehended Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro earlier in the month, noting that “all narco-terrorists ought to heed this.”
China and the Asia-Pacific region: the threat from Beijing is no longer a key priority
The latest defense document characterizes China, perceived by the Biden administration as a principal rival, as a stabilizing influence within the Indo-Pacific region that merely requires deterrence from dominating the United States or its associates.
“The intent is not to overpower China, nor to constrain or demean it. It does not necessitate regime transformation or any analogous existential contest…President Trump seeks a steadfast peace, equitable trade practices, and a relationship grounded in mutual respect with China,” the paper states, also outlining designs to broaden “the scope of military communications” with the Chinese military.
Concurrently, the strategy neglects to reference or supply any assurances for Taiwan, which Beijing regards as its territory and does not exclude the recourse to force in order to seize control of the island. According to its own legislation, the United States bears the onus of furnishing military aid to Taiwan.
The Joe Biden administration’s defense strategy for 2022 asserted that the United States would bolster Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities.
Another case of delegating responsibility for regional security to allies concerns the challenge posed by North Korea.
“South Korea possesses the capacity to undertake prime responsibility for deterring North Korea, supported by crucial yet more circumscribed aid from the United States,” the paper indicates.
Middle East, deterring Iran
Regarding the Middle East, the document conveys that Iran persists as a notable threat and seemingly “intends to reconstruct its conventional armed forces” and may yet endeavor to develop nuclear arms.
Designating Israel as an “archetypal ally,” the Pentagon articulated that US allies and partners within the Middle East should shoulder the majority of the burden in countering Iran, although Washington could instigate “targeted, resolute action” within the region.
On Thursday, January 22, Trump declared that Washington was augmenting military forces in the Middle East “just in case.” The region has been bracing itself for U.S. intervention as the Iranian regime has suppressed demonstrators this month, albeit Trump has moderated his language somewhat following lobbying efforts from Israeli and Arab officials.
The new strategy comes after a week of hostility between Trump and US allies.
The issuance of the novel defense strategy concluded a week marked by antagonism between the Trump administration and customary US allies, notably Europe, when the White House chief menaced tariffs on specific European partners to compel them to grant control of Greenland, despite a subsequent announcement of a deal that alleviated tensions.
As allies confront what certain observers perceive as a confrontational US stance, they will almost undoubtedly be disquieted by the prospect that the US War Department, under the stewardship of Pete Hegseth, will furnish “substantial options for ensuring US military and commercial access to pivotal territories,” prominently Greenland and the Panama Canal.
Subsequent to a disagreement at the World Economic Forum in Davos with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney this week, the updated US defense strategy concurrently advocates for cooperation with Canada and other neighboring nations, yet also harbors a severe admonition.
“We will engage in good faith with our neighbors, spanning from Canada to our partners in Central and South America, but we will ensure that they demonstrate respect and fulfill their obligations in safeguarding our collective interests. Should they deviate from this course, we stand ready to initiate targeted, resolute action explicitly advancing U.S. interests,” the paper states.
Analogous to the modernized US National Security Strategy unveiled earlier, the defense strategy buttresses Trump’s “America First” ethos, which champions non-interference in international matters, contests longstanding strategic affiliations, and prioritizes US interests. The most recent US National Defense Strategy was disseminated in 2022 under Joe Biden, accentuating China as America’s “foremost challenge.”
America’s emerging path might represent the definitive juncture: established pacts will be discarded, and the entirety of the globe will bear the ramifications. Oleksiy Izhak scrutinized the updated US National Security Strategy and explicated how Washington is relinquishing responsibility and the rationale behind others bearing the cost.