The newly unveiled U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) argues that it marks a profound strategic rupture in transatlantic relations by depicting Europe as a declining civilisation, redefining Russia as a potential partner, and prioritising U.S. domestic strength over global commitments.

It is all coming together, a paradigm shift, and one does not need a policy paper or press briefing to see the writing on the wall. The 33-page document should be viewed more as the US finally facing reality: Europe is on the decline, morally, economically, and geopolitically. Its institutions have been hijacked by political elites who have lost step with the values that once defined what it means to be European. As the BBC reports, the document, unveiled by the US administration, suggests ‘Europe is facing “civilisational erasure” and does not cast Russia as a threat to the US.’

The document is widely viewed as aligned with Donald Trump’s worldview, which argues that Europe is sliding into decline, merely confirming what critics say is already visible across the continent. Furthermore, the report claims Europe is failing economically, politically, and culturally, and that its core values have been surrendered to powerful special interests. It echoes Trump’s calls to restore “Western identity,” curb foreign influence, halt mass migration, and refocus U.S. priorities on domestic security - potentially at the expense of long-standing allies.

Civilisational Erasure

In terms of Europe, the document warns that if current trends continue, the continent could be “unrecognisable in 20 years or less,” with economic troubles overshadowed by what it describes as the threat of “civilisational erasure.” It questions whether some European states will retain the economic or military strength needed to remain dependable partners.

The Washington Post called it a “grenade in Brussels”; Euronews noted it warns of Europe’s “civilisational decline”; X users (e.g., @Sunnymica) labelled it “fascist European rantings.” European leaders like Poland’s Donald Tusk responded, “Europe is your closest ally, not your problem.”

The report accuses the EU and other multinational bodies of undermining member states’ political sovereignty and argues that migration policies are stoking social conflict. It also cites concerns about restrictions on free speech, declining birth rates, and what it portrays as a loss of national identity and confidence amongst EU member states.

In contrast, it praises the rise of “patriotic European parties” and asserts that the U.S. should encourage this political revival across the continent. As I wrote, one policy analyst, who worked many years for USAID and energy policy:

You are a policy guy; what do you make of this so-called new Security Strategy, if there is really anything new about it, or only a reality check? I am really confused if the US wants to defeat Russia and China or finish off Europe, effectively a controlled shot to the head, especially the EU and NATO, so to keep the US and the USD as predominate at the expense of competing blocks who are out of step with US and European values.

The 33-page NSS deliberately reframes identity and domestic politics that are now center stage in U.S. strategic thinking. This approach openly brings forth the public questioning of the integrity of strategic alliances. What is especially revealing is how it defines the lending of support to nationalist forces in allied states as stated policy, such as to the AfD in Germany. This approach is more in keeping with the MAGA agenda. Such a combination of a new focus and more rhetoric puts forth a new approach in how the US deals with its friends and allies; however, how that will be implemented is anybody’s best guess.

Nonetheless, the document, if acted upon as real policy, will most definitely produce a realignment in transatlantic relations; however, it will not necessarily lead to a “finishing off” of Old Europe but rather a purposeful weakening of the existing consensus, the same one that has sustained U.S.-European cooperation for decades.

European leaders seem to have their own separate agenda. They are only too willing to sacrifice all in achieving short-term gains and maintaining the political status quo as a desperate act of self-preservation… something no longer acceptable to Donald Trump and his MAGA movement; this is REALISM - a strategy that is based on reality, not on Western European dreaming…!!

And indeed, Trump and PUTIN have shared values - and that’s a good thing in the BIGGER scheme of things.

The NSS is a bomb thrown straight at Europe. The document dedicates just 2.5 pages to Europe (out of 33), framing it as a declining entity facing “civilizational erasure” due to migration, low birth rates, EU integration, censorship, and loss of national identity. It calls for the US to “cultivate resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations” and praises “patriotic European parties” (a nod to far-right groups).

The biggest takeaway is that Russia is no longer considered an enemy but a country that the US should try to make arrangements with. Unlike the 2022 NSS (which mentioned Russia 71 times as a threat), the 2025 version omits Russia from the list of direct adversaries. It prioritizes “reestablish[ing] strategic stability with Russia” to end the Ukraine conflict and stabilize European economies. It blames “European officials” for blocking peace and notes a “large European majority wants peace.”

Managing European relations with Russia…

“A core U.S. interest is to negotiate an expeditious cessation of hostilities in Ukraine… to reestablish strategic stability with Russia.” - Reactions: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov hailed it as “largely consistent with our vision”; Al Jazeera reported Russia “welcomes” the softer tone; X posts (e.g., @MoveToRussiaCom) called it a “major shift” toward Russia as “not enemies anymore.”

The Kremlin has praised the new national security strategy adopted by US President Donald Trump, saying it aligns closely with Russia’s own view of global affairs.

It is apparent that the US is no longer financially or militarily capable of maintaining its hegemonic empire, or of supporting its client states indefinitely. The NSS admits past “hegemonic” pursuits (e.g., democracy promotion, endless interventions) have “diffused [US] strength and an unstable foundation,” leading to unsustainable deficits and overextension. It rejects indefinite support for “client states,” shifting resources to the Western Hemisphere and domestic industry. However, it asserts US “pre-eminence” in the Americas via a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine.

The US attitude toward the EU has become rather less than friendly, warning that alliances with many will be either impossible to maintain, or completely worthless in the near future. It is also interesting that Israel is hardly mentioned, likely losing its “greatest ally” tag due to the incredibly few mentions it gets. Israel appears only ~6 times (briefly, e.g., in lists of conflicts or as a partner in containing Iran).

The Middle East is deprioritized (“no longer the top strategic priority,” requiring only “careful management”). This contrasts with prior NSS documents’ heavy focus on Israel as a cornerstone ally.

The NSS criticizes the EU for “trampling on basic principles of democracy” via “unstable minority governments” and “subversion of democratic processes.” It urges Europe to “take primary responsibility for its own defence” without US dominance, implying alliances are burdensome and unreliable. It endorses ending NATO’s “perception… as a perpetually expanding alliance” by stopping the never-ending march of the alliance towards Russia’s borders, a fact that should not be lost on Ukraine.

“European officials who hold unrealistic expectations for the war in Ukraine… many of which trample on basic principles of democracy… We must encourage Europe… to take primary responsibility for its own defence.” Perhaps most revealing, as The Guardian highlighted is US support for Europe’s far-right to “divide” the EU, and the document calls out Europe for failing to stay abreast of the needs of its own voters and pushing them to alternative parties, which has further divided both individual countries and the alliance as a whole.

In the final analysis, the summary and commentary are not far from the core of what is found in the NSS’s document. The prevailing narrative in recent media coverage (December 4–8, 2025) supports this contention. The US has taken a practical position, which is manifested as an isolationist shift, substantiated by the document’s own words and the global reaction. For the full text, see the White House release.

Revolutionary blueprint vs. wake-up

America’s new National Security Strategy isn’t so much a revolutionary blueprint as it is a wake-up call that confirms that U.S. hegemony has frayed at the edges and risks completely unravelling unless drastic measures are taken. Europe has been sharply downgraded from a steadfast do-no-wrong ally to a continent teetering on “civilizational erasure,” praising its nationalist insurgents, AfD and others.

These 33 pages extend an olive branch to Russia while sidelining endless proxy wars, and the document codifies Trump-era realism: prioritize American pre-eminence at home and in the Americas, let faltering partners fend for themselves, and abandon the illusions of perpetual global dominance.

Whether this signals the death knell for NATO and the EU or a pragmatic pivot away from overextension remains to be seen - but as reactions from Brussels’ outrage to Moscow’s approval underscore, the transatlantic rift is no longer subtext; it is policy. For a superpower grappling with deficits and decline, it’s less innovation than inevitability, a strategy that hedges its bets on division in order to reclaim strength.

Seth Ferris, investigative journalist and political scientist, expert on Middle Eastern affairs. Courtesy

https://journal-neo.su/2025/12/13/is-there-anything-really-new-about-americas-new-strategic-strategy/