The tone is unmistakable and unflinching. The White House questions whether some European states will ever recover strong enough economies or militaries to remain reliable partners for the United States. It warns that “within a few decades at the latest,” certain members of NATO could become “majority non-European,” casting doubt on whether they will perceive their alliance with the U.S. in the same way as the original signatories did.
In contrast to previous U.S. strategies that leaned heavily on collective defence and diplomatic cooperation, the new document adopts what critics call a “cultivate resistance” approach within Europe — signalling support for nationalist or “patriotic” political movements that align with this vision.
The strategy embraces an updated interpretation of the old Monroe Doctrine — asserting that the United States will now pivot decisively toward Latin America and the Caribbean, where it plans to crack down on migration, control drug trafficking, and assert unrivalled influence. Europe, meanwhile, is encouraged to “stand on its own feet,” particularly in defence matters.
The release of the document is bound to stir controversy across Europe. Many European capitals view the framing as an alarming departure from decades of post-war transatlantic solidarity. While the White House says it remains “sentimentally attached” to European countries including Britain and Ireland, critics warn such rhetoric undermines the sense of shared values and mutual security that underpinned previous U.S.–Europe relations.
In all, the message is clear: under this new strategy, Europe is no longer guaranteed U.S. support — its status as a reliable partner is conditional on fundamental political, cultural and demographic changes.
Source: National Security Strategy of the United States of America [.PDF]
