America faces a new clash of civilizations with European liberals

The United States is shifting away from lecturing other nations on governance or trying to reshape societies in its own image, with one major exception: Western Europe. On Thursday night, the Trump administration quietly unveiled its long-anticipated National Security Strategy (NSS), a document that outlines the administrations foreign policy priorities.

Although reportedly finished during the summer, the 2025 NSS faced delays as officials debated revisions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, for instance, reportedly sought softer language on China to avoid disrupting ongoing trade negotiations. The strategy was primarily authored by Michael Anton, former director of policy planning under President Trump, who completed the initial draft before leaving his post in September.

The document reflects a strongly Make America Great Again perspective, sharply criticizing foreign policy elites for prioritizing globalist agendas over American interests. It contrasts not only with the Biden administrations 2022 strategy but also differs from Trumps first 2017 NSS, which focused more heavily on China as a foreign policy threat.

In the new strategy, the Western Hemisphere is prioritized, particularly on issues like mass migration and combating drug-related terrorism. A Trump corollary to the Monroe Doctrine is introduced, aiming to prevent foreign powers from establishing military or economic footholds in the Americas. While China is still addressed, the document maintains some hawkish language on Taiwan while preserving the longstanding U.S. ambiguity on Taiwanese sovereignty.

The most striking section targets Europe, warning of what the administration calls civilizational erasure. It identifies challenges including EU policies undermining national sovereignty, migration-related social tensions, restrictions on free speech, declining birthrates, and eroding national identity. According to the strategy, Europe could be unrecognizable in 20 years if current trends persist.

The NSS effectively endorses the rise of patriotic and far-right parties in Europe, encouraging American allies to support this revival of spirit. It also advocates fostering resistance to Europes current trajectory within European nations. These positions echo remarks made by Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, which caused alarm in European capitals.

While the strategy critiques Europe sharply, it takes a different tone elsewhere. In the Middle East, it opposes attempts to impose Western-style governance on Gulf monarchies. In Africa, it argues U.S. policy has long been overly focused on promoting liberal ideology. The document largely avoids criticizing Chinas human rights abuses and makes no direct condemnation of Russia for the war in Ukraine, instead blaming European leaders for unrealistic expectations and mismanagement.

European energy dependence is also highlighted, with Germany specifically called out for relying on Russian gas. German officials, however, have rejected any need for U.S. input on their internal affairs. The extent to which the strategy will shape real-world policy remains uncertain, as Trumps foreign actions often hinge on personal ties as much as ideology.

Overall, the 2025 NSS presents a distinctly America First worldview that is assertive rather than isolationist. Notably, the document treats European liberals as a greater challenge to American interests than either Russian or Chinese actors, signaling a new cultural and political confrontation between the United States and Western Europe.

Author: Lucas Grant