Trump administration’s defense strategy tells allies to handle their own security

The Pentagon unveiled a dramatically revised National Defense Strategy on Friday that signals a fundamental shift in America’s military priorities, emphasizing Western Hemisphere dominance and demanding allies take greater responsibility for their own security.

The 34-page document, replacing the previous 2022 strategy, adopts an unusually blunt tone for a military blueprint, opening with: “For too long, the U.S. Government neglected — even rejected — putting Americans and their concrete interests first.”

Released during a week of heightened tensions with traditional allies, the strategy makes clear Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s department will prioritize “U.S. military and commercial access to key terrain,” specifically highlighting Greenland and the Panama Canal as strategic priorities.

The document delivers a stark message to international partners who have long relied on American military protection, stating they must shoulder more responsibility for countering threats from nations like Russia and North Korea. This shift represents a significant departure from the Biden administration’s 2022 strategy, which positioned China as America’s primary “pacing challenge.”

In contrast, the new strategy frames China not as a top adversary but as “a settled force in the Indo-Pacific region that only needs to be deterred from dominating the U.S. or its allies.” The document explicitly states, “The goal is not to dominate China; nor is it to strangle or humiliate them,” adding that regime change is not necessary.

Notably absent is any specific guarantee to Taiwan, which was previously supported with “asymmetric self-defense” in the 2022 strategy. Instead, the document signals openness to expanded military communications with China’s army while pursuing “stable peace, fair trade, and respectful relations.”

Regarding Europe, the strategy describes Russia as “a persistent but manageable threat” while asserting that NATO allies are “strongly positioned to take primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense.” This comes as the U.S. has already confirmed reductions in troop presence along NATO’s borders with Ukraine, raising concerns among European allies about America’s commitment to regional security.

The strategy takes a particularly assertive stance on the Western Hemisphere, promising to “actively and fearlessly defend America’s interests” in the region. This focus follows recent developments including President Trump’s announcement of a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic security with NATO leader Mark Rutte that would provide the U.S. with “total access” to Greenland — though Danish officials indicate formal negotiations have yet to begin.

The document also references Trump’s controversial statements about potentially “retaking control” of the Panama Canal, which the president recently described as “sort of on the table.” Additionally, it highlights the recent U.S. operation that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, warning that “all narco-terrorists should take note.”

For South Korea, the strategy states the country “is capable of taking primary responsibility for deterring North Korea with critical but more limited U.S. support,” further illustrating the administration’s philosophy of transferring security burdens to regional partners.

The release caps a contentious week in international relations, including a public disagreement between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos. While the strategy encourages cooperation with Canada and other neighbors, it simultaneously issues a warning: “We will engage in good faith with our neighbors… but we will ensure that they respect and do their part to defend our shared interests. And where they do not, we will stand ready to take focused, decisive action.”

This strategy represents a comprehensive realignment of American defense priorities under the “America First” philosophy, emphasizing nonintervention overseas while questioning long-established strategic relationships in favor of more narrowly defined U.S. interests.