As European capitals are still trying to work out exactly what the official text of the National Security Strategy (NSS), which many analysts see as a revival of the Monroe Doctrine, means for its future and transatlantic ties, the American website Defense One has brought to light a different, more detailed version of the document – which was never officially published – which is even more shocking.
Although the existence of this version has not been officially confirmed by the American government, according to the relevant publication which was even promoted by the American edition of Politico, the initial plan of the officials of the Trump administration is by far more painful for Europe, since it envisages the complete removal of the USA from its traditional allies, the disintegration of the European Union and the creation of new alliances with those who are still officially considered to be main competitors of America.
Make Europe Great Again through the Procrustes bed
More specifically, according to the relevant publication of the Defense One website, in the document there is a reference to the US effort to “Make Europe Great Again” (Make Europe Great Again) and in order to achieve this there should be a rearrangement of relations with European countries, focusing on governments or political movements ideologically related to the American government.
In this context, it is stated that “Austria, Hungary, Italy and Poland are mentioned as states with which the USA should “cooperate more, with the aim of removing them from the European Union” and that “the USA should support parties, movements and intellectual-cultural personalities that promote the sovereignty of nations and the “maintenance or restoration of traditional European ways of life”, provided they remain pro-American”.
Plan to rearrange the world order including Russia and China
In addition, the allegedly “secret” version of the NSS seems to be considering other ideas for rebuilding the international order, bringing back to the fore various ideas that the US president has expressed from time to time (about), such as for example that Russia should never have been expelled from the Group of 8 most powerful nations (G8) and that it would be nice if China joined it and made a G9.
The unpublished NSS takes this idea a step further by proposing, among other things, the creation of a new such group that will essentially be competitive to the functioning of the G7 (but also probably the BRICS), which it calls the Core 5 (Core 5 or C5) and which will consist of the USA, China, Russia, India and Japan.
The C5 Group will meet regularly and proceed to summits and as its first main topic will meet on security in the Middle East and the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia (Abraham Accords).
The previous model of US “hegemony” was a failure
The extended version devotes particular attention to the “failed” model of American hegemony – a term that does not appear at all in the public version. “Hegemony was a false goal and was never attainable,” the text reads.
In this context, “hegemony” means the global primacy of one country through soft power and the consent of others. “After the end of the Cold War, American foreign policy became convinced that America’s permanent dominance in the world was in the country’s best interest. But the affairs of other states concern us only when they directly threaten our interests,” the document emphasizes.
Latin American cartels are the problem
By this logic, the strategy justifies the withdrawal of the US from the defense of Europe while simultaneously shifting attention to the war against the Venezuelan cartels.
“The Trump administration inherited a world where weapons have shattered peace and stability in many countries and continents,” the NSS reports. “We have a natural interest in contributing to the normalization of this crisis.”
The document makes clear that this should not be done solely by the US, but neither should it leave room for China and Russia to take a leadership role. The strategy favors cooperation with “regional powers” to maintain stability.
“We will reward and encourage governments, political parties and movements that align with our principles and strategy,” the document notes. “But we will not ignore governments with different views when our interests converge and there is a willingness to cooperate.”
