The Trump administration’s NSS marks a decisive shift toward an interest-driven and strategically selective US foreign policy. It elevates India as a central partner across the Indo-Pacific, Africa, and even the Western Hemisphere

The 2025 United States National Security Strategy (NSS), released on December 4, 2025, under the Trump administration, reflects a major shift in US foreign policy priorities, emphasizing a narrower, interest-driven approach rather than the decades-long stance of global overextension, and marking a departure from previous strategies that sought to engage everywhere. The document represents a significant reassessment of how the United States views its global role, strategic priorities, and key partnerships. As the NSS states, “not every country, region, issue, or cause—however worthy—can be the focus of American strategy. The purpose of foreign policy is the protection of core national interests; that is the sole focus of this strategy.” It further emphasizes that prioritization is essential: while urgent threats in less consequential regions may require attention, sustained engagement there could distract from protecting core US interests.

Strategic priorities and global competition

A central theme of the NSS is burden sharing and burden shifting. The document critiques earlier approaches that expected the United States to shoulder disproportionate responsibilities while allies contributed minimally. It states, “The days of the United States propping up the entire world order like Atlas are over.” The NSS highlights President Trump’s Hague Commitment, which pledges NATO members to spend 5 percent of GDP on defence and has been endorsed by U.S. allies as a new global standard. Building on this approach, the strategy envisions a burden-sharing network in which the United States acts as convener and supporter rather than sole guarantor.

The document also argues that Europe must address deeper structural and civilizational challenges beyond insufficient defense spending or economic stagnation. The NSS warns of a potential “civilizational erasure,” driven by actions undermining political liberty and sovereignty, transformative migration policies, censorship, collapsing birth rates, and erosion of national identities and self-confidence. If these trends continue, parts of Europe may no longer be economically or militarily strong enough to serve as reliable allies. The strategy urges European partners to restore strategic confidence, reduce regulatory constraints, and reaffirm the foundations of Western identity.

Contrary to the perception that the Trump administration views Russia solely as an adversary, the NSS adopts a more measured tone. It does not treat Russia as a strategic threat but emphasizes the importance of managing ties with Moscow and achieving strategic stability. In line with this approach, the NSS identifies it as a core US interest to negotiate an expeditious cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, aiming to stabilize European economies, prevent unintended escalation or expansion of the........

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