New U.S. Defense Strategy Calls on Allies to Defend Themselves

The Pentagon has released a priority-shifting National Defense Strategy (NDS) that calls on US allies to take greater control of their own security and reasserts the Trump administration’s focus on dominance in the Western Hemisphere, above the longtime goal of countering China, Konstantin Toropin and Courtney Bonnell reported for the Associated Press (AP).

The strategy capped a week of animosity between President Donald Trump’s administration and traditional allies in Europe. (Photo: U.S. Army Facebook) 

The 34-page document, the first since 2022, struck a highly political tone for a military blueprint, criticizing partners from Europe to Asia for relying on previous US administrations to subsidize their defense.

It called for “a sharp shift — in approach, focus, and tone.”

That translated into a blunt assessment that allies would shoulder more of the burden of countering nations from Russia to North Korea.

“For too long, the US government neglected — even rejected — putting Americans and their concrete interests first,” the opening sentence read.

The strategy capped a week of animosity between President Donald Trump’s administration and traditional allies in Europe, with Trump threatening to impose tariffs on some European partners to press a bid to acquire Greenland before later announcing a deal that lowered tensions.

As allies confront what some see as a hostile US stance, they are likely to bristle at language indicating that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s department will provide “credible options to guarantee US military and commercial access to key terrain,” particularly Greenland and the Panama Canal.