America's New Strategy: An Empire Without Excuses - Good Times Bad Times (The 20s Report)

Summary of Trump's New US National Security Strategy

This analysis examines the Trump administration's latest national security strategy, which represents a fundamental break from decades of US foreign policy. Here are the key points:

Core Philosophy: America First Realism

• National interest above all: The strategy abandons liberal interventionism and democracy promotion in favor of purely transactional relationships based on American interests
• Three pillars of security: Military, economic, and civilizational protection
• End of globalism: Free trade and international institutions are now seen as threats that weakened America rather than opportunities

Major Policy Shifts

Economic Security

• Trade deficits treated as national security threats
• Push for re-industrialization and supply chain independence
• Rejection of climate policies; embrace of fossil fuels and nuclear energy as strategic assets
• Energy exports (especially LNG) used as geopolitical leverage

Civilizational Security

• Mass immigration framed as an "external invasion"
• Rejection of "woke ideology" and DEI programs
• Defense of traditional values as national security priority

Regional Strategies

Western Hemisphere: Updated Monroe Doctrine to expel Chinese and Russian influence; aggressive action against cartels (designated as terrorist organizations); near-shoring manufacturing

Indo-Pacific: China remains existential threat; technological and economic containment; defense of Taiwan and first island chain; allies expected to shoulder more defense burden

Europe: Most controversial section calling for:

• Dismantling of the EU bureaucracy
• Support for "patriotic" nationalist parties
• Partnership with select "healthy nations" in Central/Eastern Europe
• Rapid end to Ukraine war to pursue strategic stability with Russia
• Closure of NATO expansion

Middle East: Transactional relationships with Gulf states; expansion of Abraham Accords; reduced priority as US becomes energy independent

The New World Order

The strategy marks America's transition from "benevolent hegemon" to open imperial dominance—comparing it to Athens transforming the Delian League from voluntary alliance into tribute system. NATO allies are expected to spend 5% of GDP on defense (much of it on US weapons), effectively financing American re-industrialization while bearing frontline defense responsibilities.

The document signals an era of "unrestrained competition" where alliances are conditional, economic warfare is normalized, and the US pursues power through "ruthless Machiavellian methods" rather than values-based partnerships.