Even during his first term in office, President Trump questioned why the United States continues to underwrite Europe’s security when Europe refuses to defend itself. Most European nations no longer have conscription, and until Trump forced them earlier this year to increase their defense spending, they had stopped supporting their militaries economically.
At the same time, they were clinging to free medicine and education, as well as generous social benefits for citizens and illegal immigrants alike. Furthermore, since the onset of the Russia–Ukraine war, Europe has been poking the Russian bear with a stick, making defiant statements that could trigger NATO Article 5 and drag the United States into a war with Russia.
With low birthrates, widespread refusal to serve in the military, and minimal government spending on defense, Europe has become dependent on the United States to maintain its freedom at the expense of U.S. taxpayers and the lives of U.S. soldiers. It is no wonder that the Trump administration has issued an official document that pulls no punches, telling Europe exactly what he thinks and demanding that Europe take responsibility for its own defense.
The Trump administration’s new national security strategy formally codifies President Trump’s long-standing distrust of Europe’s political and military establishment. The document presents Europe as militarily weak, culturally eroding, and no longer a reliable strategic partner.
For the first time, an official U.S. strategy paper shifts primary responsibility for Europe’s defense onto European governments and signals that the United States may no longer guarantee Europe’s security as it did after World War II. Europe is explicitly downgraded as a strategic priority in favor of an “America First” retrenchment.
The strategy contains harsh language for Europe, describing the continent as being in “civilizational decline” and warning that current political and social trends could render parts of Europe unrecognizable within two decades.
It argues that Europe’s challenges extend far beyond insufficient military spending or economic stagnation, suggesting that EU overreach, regulatory burdens, migration policies, demographic decline, censorship, and erosion of national identity collectively threaten the continent’s long-term viability. These structural weaknesses, it claims, could leave several European states too weak, economically or militarily, to remain dependable allies.
The NSS criticizes European governments for suppressing political opposition, particularly by marginalizing right-wing parties, framing these actions as “political censorship.” It warns that migration could result in “certain NATO members” becoming majority non-European, raising questions about whether future governments will share U.S. interests or uphold NATO commitments. The document also describes several European governments as “unstable minority governments” whose internal crises undermine their ability to address security challenges.
The strategy accuses European leaders of holding “unrealistic expectations” about how to end the war in Ukraine. Although Europe views Russia as an existential threat, the NSS argues that political fragmentation, weakened democratic processes, and growing external dependencies hinder meaningful reform. It links Europe’s handling of the Ukraine conflict to broader structural problems, including economic reliance on Russia and China that has deepened during the war.
This marks a clear break from Trump’s first-term National Security Strategy, which focused heavily on countering Russia and China. The new document softens criticism of Russia while sharpening criticism of Europe, calling for an end to NATO expansion and arguing that the alliance should not become a perpetually enlarging burden for the United States. Europe, once central to U.S. foreign policy, now ranks behind the Western Hemisphere and the Indo-Pacific in strategic importance.
The NSS codifies Trump’s view that Europe relies too heavily on American protection. It argues that European nations must assume primary responsibility for their own defense and operate as aligned sovereign states rather than depend on U.S. guarantees or NATO enlargement.
Additional priorities include increasing U.S. access to European markets, strengthening ties with Central, Eastern, and Southern European nations, improving defenses against technological theft and cyber espionage, and encouraging Europe to counter Chinese economic influence.
Despite its criticisms, the strategy acknowledges Europe’s cultural, economic, and scientific importance. It warns, however, that Europe cannot play a meaningful global role if it remains paralyzed by demographic decline, political division, and loss of confidence. The stated objective is to “help Europe correct its current trajectory” by encouraging a revival of national identity and supporting “patriotic” movements within European nations.
The release of the strategy comes as Russia signals readiness for conflict with Europe, intensifying debate within the continent about whether to deepen military integration or pursue greater self-reliance. European governments have increased defense spending, expanded conscription, and built new EU defense structures, yet they still rely heavily on U.S. capabilities. Analysts warn that weakening Europe while softening the U.S. stance toward Russia aligns with long-standing Russian strategic aims and could leave Europe vulnerable.
Most European leaders have responded cautiously, emphasizing the continued importance of the United States as an ally and avoiding open confrontation. Some right-wing European parties have welcomed the strategy as validation of their criticisms of the EU and NATO leadership.
The NSS forces Europe to confront a reality it has long avoided: the United States may no longer serve as its unconditional security guarantor. As a result, European governments must reconsider their assumptions about defense, identity, sovereignty, and long-term geopolitical alignment.
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