A turning point in postwar U.S. foreign policy appears in a newly released 33-page National Defense Strategy document from the administration of Donald Trump, which warns Europe of “cultural erasure.” At the same time, the document makes clear the intention to restore American dominance in Latin America and declares that the “era of mass migration” must end.

According to an analysis by The New York Times, the Trump administration has effectively stripped its foreign policy of the language of values and redefined American interests in terms of profit, migration control, and avoidance of international commitments.

“Latin American countries must offer no-bid contracts to American companies. Taiwan matters only for its semiconductors and sea lanes. Washington’s ‘intimidating’ posture toward the wealthy Gulf monarchies must stop. The world, as seen by the White House, is a place where America can use its vast power to make money,” the newspaper writes.

Europe as a hub of decline and threat

Under this framework, Europe is no longer viewed as a political or institutional partner. Instead—and for the first time in an official U.S. document—it is described as a hub of decline and a source of threat.

The new strategy depicts Europe as facing “cultural erasure” from migrants and from its own leaders. The document states that the United States will cultivate “resistance” toward the leaders of Europe’s mainstream political establishment, noting that many of their governments “trample key democratic principles to suppress opposition.”

This stance has sparked strong reactions from European politicians, echoing the shock caused earlier when Vice President J.D. Vance reprimanded German officials in February for attempting to curb the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt wrote on social media that the National Security Strategy “positions itself to the right of Europe’s far right.”

Middle East and Latin America

The Middle East is portrayed as a “source and destination of international investment,” while in Latin America the U.S. will “reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American supremacy in the Western Hemisphere.”

“Good and peaceful trade relations”

Outside of Europe, the document also breaks from previous U.S. practice. Israel and Taiwan are described in terms of economic importance and not connected to American values.

The document reflects a broader revision of America’s worldview. Unlike in the past, it makes no distinction between democracies and authoritarian regimes. The promotion of democracy is no longer considered a U.S. interest. Instead, the U.S. aims for “good and peaceful trade relations” without interfering in other nations’ political systems.

“We seek good relations and peaceful trade relations with the nations of the world,” it states, “without imposing democratic or other social changes that differ fundamentally from their traditions and histories.”

This new strategy also contrasts with Trump’s first term, when the world was framed as a contest “between those who support oppressive systems and those who support free societies.”

The National Security Strategy is not legally binding, and some analysts caution against assigning too much weight to it given Trump’s unpredictability. Nevertheless, its publication—typically refreshed only once per term—serves as a meaningful snapshot in time. Amid internal Republican debates over U.S. policy toward the Middle East, Russia, and China, the document shows an administration seeking to avoid military entanglements and prioritize trade.