In today’s episode of **What’s going on with BRICS**: The 2025 US National Security Strategy – America First Reloaded, with a major revival of the Monroe Doctrine.
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### What’s in the News
1. **The 2025 NSS drops – a short, sharp America First blueprint**
- Released December 4, 2025, this 33-page document is Trump’s second-term foreign policy vision.
- Simple idea: Focus on what directly helps America – security, wealth, and power – without carrying the world on US shoulders.
- Quote: “To ensure America remains the world’s strongest, richest, most powerful nation.”
2. **The big bombshell: Reviving and updating the Monroe Doctrine**
- The original Monroe Doctrine (1823) told European powers: stay out of the Americas – the Western Hemisphere is off-limits for new colonies or interference.
- Now, the 2025 NSS brings it back with a modern twist called the “**Trump Corollary**.”
- What it means in plain English: The US will actively block rivals like China and Russia from gaining military bases, owning key ports, or building threatening influence anywhere in North, Central, or South America.
- Examples of topical hotspots: China’s investments in ports like Chancay in Peru (a potential Belt and Road hub for Pacific trade) or Russia’s ties to Venezuelan bases could face US pushback; the Panama Canal, a vital chokepoint for global shipping (US helped build it in 1904 and handed over in 1999), is flagged for preventing foreign control that could disrupt US commerce.
- It also treats mass migration, drug cartels, and foreign control of resources as direct national security threats – think Mexican cartels flooding fentanyl or Chinese firms dominating lithium mines in Argentina’s “Lithium Triangle.”
- Why significant? This elevates the Americas to America’s #1 foreign policy priority – a huge shift from decades of focusing on Europe, Middle East, or Asia.
- Quote from the doc: “This ‘Trump Corollary’ to the Monroe Doctrine is a common-sense and potent restoration of American power and priorities.”
3. **Who authored and approved it? Key players**
- The White House and National Security Council write it; President Trump gives final sign-off – fully executive-driven.
- NSC Advisor Tulsi Gabbard shaped the pragmatic, non-interventionist elements.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth influenced military realignment sections.
- Legal and strategy scholars: Likely input from John Yoo (executive authority expert) and Hal Brands (great-power competition thinker), plus Heritage Foundation voices like James Carafano on alliances.
4. **Congress, Pentagon, and private stakeholders’ roles**
- Congress/Senate: No vote or edit power – they review in hearings, but real influence comes through approving budgets (NDAA).
- Pentagon: Heavy contributor on troop posture and defense priorities.
- Private stakeholders: Informal advice from think tanks and industry leaders – shapes economic security parts.
5. **NATO in the NSS – tough love for a “delinquent” alliance**
- The doc calls out NATO allies for under-spending and over-relying on US protection – demands they hit higher defense budgets (hints at 5% of GDP, beyond the 2% goal).
- What it means for normies: NATO (formed 1949) is the US-led military pact with 31 European partners for collective defense; the NSS says it’s time for Europe to pull its weight or risk US pullback.
- Significant because it treats Europe as a secondary priority – the US won’t subsidize allies who don’t step up, potentially shifting troops from NATO bases to the Americas.
- Why a big deal? Signals the end of automatic US leadership in Europe, pushing allies to fend more for themselves against threats like Russia.
6. **AUKUS and alliances – strengthened but selective**
- The doc reaffirms AUKUS (US-UK-Australia nuclear sub and tech pact) as vital for Indo-Pacific deterrence against China.
- But alliances are now transactional: Partners must pay their fair share and align on core US interests – no free rides.
7. **Can the Trump admin leverage this doc? Absolutely – here’s how**
- As executive guidance, the administration can immediately use it to direct agencies: State Department negotiates based on its priorities, DoD reallocates resources, and Treasury pushes economic deals.
- Leverage examples: Invoke the Trump Corollary to block Chinese port investments in Latin America via sanctions or diplomacy; redirect aid/budgets toward hemisphere security.
- Significant for normies: It’s not just words – it justifies quick actions like troop moves or tariffs without needing new laws, giving the admin flexibility in a fast-changing world.
8. **How to lock this in so it survives Trump? Limited options**
- The NSS is administration-specific – it doesn’t bind future presidents, who can rewrite it (e.g., Biden’s 2022 version scrapped Trump’s 2017).
- Ways to make it enduring: Embed principles in laws (e.g., via NDAA mandates for hemisphere focus) or treaties, but Congress must approve – tough with divided politics.
- Build bipartisan support: If midterms strengthen GOP, push legislation; institutionalize via executive orders or agency rules.
- Realistic view: Hard to fully lock in – policy shifts with elections, but cultural changes (e.g., public support for America First) could make it stickier.
9. **Post-Trump scenarios**
- If JD Vance wins in 2028: Strong continuity – Vance helped craft it as VP, so expect the Monroe revival and America First focus to stick.
- If Democrats win in 2028: Likely full rewrite – back to multilateralism, stronger Europe ties, and values-driven foreign policy (like Biden’s 2022 NSS replaced Trump’s 2017 version).
10. **Real power of the document**
- It’s executive guidance – steers agencies (State, DoD) on daily priorities and long-term plans.
- Not law, but shapes budgets and diplomacy; Congress often aligns funding with its direction.
- Significant because it signals to allies and rivals exactly where US focus (and resources) will go.
11. **Troop shifts: Pulling back overseas to focus on Americas?**
- Yes – calls for readjusting global bases, moving forces from Europe and Asia toward the Western Hemisphere.
- Realistic rollout: Gradual over years (10-20% reduction abroad), keeping key hubs but prioritizing border security, migration, and drug threats.
- Why it matters: Avoids overstretch in multipolar conflicts, redirects strength homeward.
12. **BRICS non-Americas view – opportunity or trap?**
- The bloc sees it as US retreat: Less American meddling in Asia and Europe opens space for influence (China in Indo-Pacific, Russia in Ukraine).
- Not a full free pass – US keeps strong deterrence on core flashpoints like Taiwan.
- Overall: Encourages BRICS to push multipolar agenda, but risks miscalculation if US refocuses sharper.
- In a multipolar world, the 2025 NSS is a bold, practical reset – reviving the Monroe Doctrine with a Trump Corollary to lock down the Americas, while telling allies to step up. It puts US interests first in a changing world where BRICS gains ground. 🌀
