The Trump administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS), released on December 5, 2025, marks a profound shift in U.S. strategic thinking.
Grounded firmly in the “America First” doctrine, the strategy prioritizes national sovereignty, border enforcement, and hemispheric dominance over multilateralism, democracy promotion, or global institutional leadership.
It reflects a departure from the liberal internationalist frameworks of past decades and sets the tone for the remainder of President Trump’s second term.
Central to the document is a broad interpretation of national security. It defines threats not only in terms of conventional military dangers but also includes espionage, economic coercion, propaganda, and cultural subversion. The strategy outlines ambitious objectives: restoring control over borders and immigration, revitalizing the domestic industrial base, achieving energy dominance, and maintaining technological superiority in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing.
A modernized military and credible nuclear deterrent form the backbone of the administration’s commitment to “Peace Through Strength.”
The NSS identifies the Western Hemisphere as its primary area of focus, explicitly echoing an updated Monroe Doctrine (with a “Trump Corollary”). The United States seeks to reassert dominance across the Americas, prioritize border security, and disrupt transnational criminal networks.
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