The US National Security Strategy marks a decisive break from decades of Western consensus, embracing ‘America first’ and backing populist forces in Europe. It’s coherent, consequential – and a wake-up call for Britain and its allies, says George Fergusson.

The US National Security Strategy is interesting – more so than some of the panicked and derisive reactions to it on this side of the Atlantic suggest. Some of it is genuinely alarming from this angle. Some of it seems plain wrong. But it presents some propositions worth debating and has coherence which we haven’t seen, or at least understood, in much of American foreign policy this year.

It is certainly important. It explains clearly what we shall have to work with for the next three years.

It is readable, unlike most of our strategic reviews which are written in a way which clearly expects a small audience, and gets one.

Unsurprisingly, its proud core is America first. Wars should end – because that’s in America’s interest. Strategic resources should be managed in America’s interest. America should be in a position economically, technologically and militarily to make sure things happen in America’s interest.

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This accompanies one conclusion that seems to me welcome: China is an economic competitor, to be competed with economically, albeit from a position of military........

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