US Strategy Calls for Resistance in Europe Amid Ukraine Crisis

A newly released US national security strategy emphasizes the need for “cultivating resistance” in Europe, pointing to challenges facing democracy, ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and demographic shifts marked by high migration and declining birth rates. The 33-page document, issued under the administration of President Donald Trump, criticizes European officials for obstructing US attempts to broker peace in Ukraine, suggesting that they ignore a supposed “large European majority” that desires an end to hostilities.

The strategy reflects a significant shift in US foreign policy priorities. It reaffirms American dominance in the Western Hemisphere as a primary objective, echoing the historic Monroe Doctrine from 1823, which declared the region a US sphere of influence. By prioritizing the Americas, the document deprioritizes both China and Europe, while declaring an end to the era of focusing on the Middle East.

With this strategy, the US aims to address urgent threats closer to home. An “expeditious cessation of hostilities” in Ukraine is deemed essential for stabilizing European economies and preventing wider escalation of the conflict. The document suggests a military realignment to focus on threats in “our Hemisphere,” indicating a shift away from regions that have grown less relevant to US national security in recent decades.

The document notes that the US has the largest deployment of warships in the Caribbean, with over a dozen vessels and more than 14,000 troops. In recent months, Washington has conducted at least 22 strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in at least 87 deaths. There are also discussions regarding potential military actions on Venezuelan territory.

In a pointed critique of the European Union, the strategy claims that EU activities “undermine political liberty and sovereignty,” advocating for efforts to “cultivate resistance to Europe’s current trajectory.” It praises the rise of Eurosceptic far-right parties, suggesting that their influence could reshape the bloc’s future. The document calls for US diplomacy to support genuine democracy and freedom of expression in Europe while promoting the unique identities of individual European nations.

This strategy mirrors the sentiments expressed by JD Vance, the US Vice President, during a speech at the Munich Security Forum in February 2025, where he portrayed Europe as facing greater threats from internal democratic failures than from external aggression, specifically from Russia.

The strategic document outlines a policy of “burden-shifting,” which seeks to encourage European nations to operate independently as aligned sovereign entities. While it frames China primarily as an economic competitor, it also emphasizes the need for ongoing deterrence to prevent conflict in the Indo-Pacific region. The US will bolster its military presence in that area, urging allies to increase their defense spending and enhance military capabilities so that America does not bear the entire responsibility for maintaining peace and navigational freedom.

The release of this national security strategy on Friday is set to be followed by a comprehensive US defense posture review next year, which will realign military assets to address the new foreign policy priorities outlined in the document. As the situation in Ukraine evolves, European capitals are increasingly concerned about Washington’s willingness to pressure Kyiv into potentially compromising positions regarding its long-standing red lines.