The newly released US National Security Strategy deserves close reading, even if President Donald Trump – through his personality, temperament and improvisational style – has become the embodiment of his government’s national security doctrine, written or otherwise.
The vision of Mr Trump’s second administration for America’s global role isn’t the same as that of his first, and the contents of the current strategy have angered allies and prompted new friends to diversify their relationships rather than rely exclusively on the American partner.
What’s useful for understanding this doctrine is its unapologetic clarity. Indeed, it emphasises US power not by expanding global leadership but by downsizing it, and by refraining from managing the world order, as was done in the past. This is a fundamental shift in how Washington views its global role and how it defines its national interest.
The slogan “America First” and the mantra “Make America Great Again” are fleshed out in the global strategy from the standpoint of protecting US sovereignty and avoiding international commitments th
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