USA US defense strategy: Europe yes, but not the focus
Although the USA wants to remain a firm ally of NATO and thus an ally of the Europeans, it sees the defense of its country and the surrounding regions as a priority. This is clear from the new national defense strategy of US President Donald Trump's administration. It also emphasizes deterrence against China. An overview of important points:
24.01.2026, 09:51
SDA
Europe
The message to Europe is clear. Tenor: Your conventional defense is primarily your own responsibility. The USA wants to continue to play a central role within NATO - even if it is readjusting its presence in Europe. Allies should take the lead in Europe against threats that are more serious for them than for the USA - "with decisive but limited support from the United States", it says. In the past, there have been repeated discussions about reducing troop levels in Europe.
At the end of last year, the US Congress passed a defense budget bill that, unlike the National Security and Defense Strategy, is more in line with the traditional approach of previous defense priorities. With regard to the US troop presence in Europe, the law stipulates that the total number of armed forces permanently in the area of responsibility of the European Command may not be less than 76,000 for more than 45 days. Most recently, it is estimated that more than 80,000 US soldiers were stationed in Europe.
The 34-page defence strategy emphasizes that it is crucial for the USA that its allies implement the NATO agreement to massively increase defence spending. In the wake of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and at Trump's urging, NATO agreed last June to invest at least 3.5 percent of national GDP in defense in the future. A further 1.5 percent is then to be added for defense-related expenditure, such as infrastructure.
USA and the "western hemisphere"
In line with Trump's guiding principle of "America First", the USA's defense focus should be on its own country. Borders are to be secured and airspace protected by the "Golden Dome" missile defense system, which Trump wants to set up on Greenland. This plan already indicates that the USA is far from limiting its focus to its own borders: "At the same time, we will actively and fearlessly defend America's interests throughout the Western Hemisphere," it says.
Military and economic access to important areas will be secured, in particular to the Panama Canal, Greenland and the Gulf of Mexico, which the Pentagon refers to as the Gulf of America. US military action against suspected drug smugglers is also a priority.
It was already clear from the security strategy that the main focus of the USA in future would be in the "western hemisphere". This usually refers to the twin continent of America and the surrounding islands. Trump has recently reaffirmed his country's claim to dominance of the American double continent on several occasions.
China
The USA is pursuing a course that does not rely on direct confrontation with China. This was demonstrated by the meeting between the US President and China's head of state Xi Jinping in South Korea at the end of October, at which Trump emphasized his good relationship with Beijing and softened his tone in the trade conflict.
At the same time, the US government is making it clear in its defense strategy that it wants to deter China in the Indo-Pacific through strength, not confrontation. There is talk of a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, which plays an important role for the USA as a trading area. The USA sees China as the second most powerful country in the world - after the United States. The description of China is sober and not aimed at escalation: It does not want to dominate the country - but does not want to be dominated either. Beijing's power is growing.
Russia
Unlike China, the USA considers Russia to be a "manageable threat" to the eastern NATO members. The USA believes that the Europeans bear the main responsibility for supporting Ukraine's defense. The Russian war against Ukraine must end, but the main responsibility here also lies with the Europeans.
Moscow is not in a position to achieve dominance in Europe, they say. It will be interesting to see how Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin reacts to this. The European NATO members are more powerful than Russia, the USA emphasizes. The German economy alone dwarfs the Russian economy.
The war in Ukraine also shows that Russia has large military and industrial reserves, it continues. Russia has the world's largest nuclear arsenal.
Defense strategy follows security strategy
At the beginning of December, the USA published its national security strategy, which was seen as a break by the US government with the tradition of close transatlantic cooperation. According to the document, previous strategies had not taken into account the core national interests of the USA and prioritized the defence of other countries at the expense of the US population. Now "America First" applies.
The current political landscape in the EU was branded a threat to American interests in the document. Specifically, alleged democratic deficits and restrictions on freedom of expression were criticized. The text did not contain any critical words for the Kremlin as an aggressor in the war against Ukraine.
The overall tone of the defense strategy sounds somewhat more sober and objective - but the content is along the same lines. It comes just a few days after Trump's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, which was peppered with hostility towards Europe.
