President Donald Trump has laid out a stark vision for America's role in Europe, centred on his protectionist "America First" doctrine, in a newly released security document that warns the continent could become "unrecognisable" within two decades.
A New Strategic Direction
Published on December 6, 2025, the National Security Strategy marks a clear departure from the approach of his predecessor, Joe Biden, and even from Trump's own 2017 strategy. The document, authored by Ryan Prosser, shifts focus from dividing the world into free and repressive regimes to aggressively asserting American dominance across military, technological, and commercial fields.
It controversially prioritises trade links and national interest over promoting democratic values, framing a future where the US drives global change. One of its most alarming claims is that Europe is heading for what it terms "civilisational erasure" and may look "unrecognisable in 20 years or less".
What 'America First' Means for Europe
The strategy provides a telling glimpse into Trump's outlook for the continent. It states a core US interest is to "restore Europe's civilisational self-confidence and Western identity", a goal it suggests is evident from the European response to the Ukraine-Russia war.
Furthermore, the document insists Europe must "abandon its failed focus on regulatory suffocation". It envisages a US role in keeping the Western hemisphere "reasonably stable and well-governed enough" primarily to prevent mass migration towards American shores.
On foreign policy, the doctrine advocates for "peace through strength" and pledges to protect sovereign nations over "most intrusive transnational organisations"—a phrase widely interpreted as a critique of bodies like the EU, NATO, and the International Court of Justice.
Trade, Ukraine, and the Limits of Support
The strategy is uncompromising on trade, stating the US will insist on "fair" policies from other nations and will not tolerate trade imbalances or "predatory economic practices." It asserts that American engagement in foreign affairs, including conflicts, will occur only when it directly serves national interests.
This principle is applied to the war in Ukraine. The paper acknowledges the conflict will require "significant US diplomatic engagement" to stop it escalating into a wider Russia-Europe war. In practice, Trump's approach has involved pressuring both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky to make concessions and reach a peace deal, while brokering a mineral agreement with Ukraine as compensation for past US military funding.
However, the document notably declines to specify whether the US would be directly involved should a broader global conflict emerge from the current crisis.
The key pillars of Trump's Europe agenda, as set out in the document, are:
- Helping Europe restore its "civilisational self-confidence."
- Insisting on "fair" policies from trading partners.
- Keeping the West stable to prevent mass migration to the US.
- Pursuing "peace through strength."
- Supporting sovereign nations over intrusive international bodies.
- Intervening abroad only if in the US interest.
- Using diplomacy on Ukraine to prevent further escalation.
