National Security Strategy (2018)
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| National Security Strategy (2018) | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Security Strategy (2018) |
| Caption | Cover of the 2018 National Security Strategy |
| Author | Donald Trump |
| Published | 2018 |
| Publisher | White House |
| Pages | 68 |
National Security Strategy (2018)
The National Security Strategy (2018) is a strategic document released by the White House under President Donald Trump that articulated a four-pillar approach to United States global policy. It set priorities for agencies such as the Department of Defense, Department of State, and Department of Homeland Security and framed relations with actors including China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and European Union allies. The publication influenced debates in the United States Congress, among think tanks like the Council on Foreign Relations and Brookings Institution, and within international bodies such as the United Nations and NATO.
Background and development
The document was drafted during the Trump administration with inputs from the National Security Council (United States), Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and policy teams from the White House Chief of Staff and Office of Management and Budget. Early conceptual framing drew on ideas promoted by advisors who had associations with the Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute, Hudson Institute, and personnel linked to the 2016 United States presidential election campaign. Drafting cycles involved senior officials including Mike Pompeo, James Mattis, John Bolton, and the President, with review by congressional committees such as the Senate Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Strategic objectives and priorities
The strategy set four principal goals: protect the homeland, promote American prosperity, preserve peace through strength, and advance American influence. It prioritized competition with China and Russia alongside threats from rogue states like North Korea and Iran, and non-state actors such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Economic framing referenced trade disputes involving World Trade Organization mechanisms and bilateral issues with partners like Mexico, Canada, and Japan. It emphasized strengthening alliances including NATO, relationships with partners such as Australia and India, and engagement in regions like the Indo-Pacific and Middle East.
Major policy themes
Key themes included great-power competition, economic security, military readiness, and homeland resilience. The document advocated for defense modernization via programs associated with the F-35 Lightning II, Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and investments resembling proposals from the Department of Defense 2018 budget request. It tied energy policy to security citing Department of Energy initiatives and referenced sanctions regimes overseen by the Office of Foreign Assets Control against entities connected to Russia and Iran. Cyber and space domains received attention, with mentions of concepts relevant to United States Cyber Command, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the later creation of organizations akin to the United States Space Force.
Implementation and interagency roles
Implementation relied on coordination among the National Security Council (United States), Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Commerce, and the Treasury Department. The strategy informed procurement decisions overseen by the Defense Acquisition University and influenced force posture reviews such as those conducted by the United States European Command and United States Indo-Pacific Command. Congressional authorization and appropriation processes in the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives shaped funding outcomes, while oversight by committees including the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Armed Services Committee guided execution.
International reaction and impact
Allied capitals such as London, Berlin, Paris, and Canberra publicly parsed the strategy's emphasis on burden-sharing and trade. NATO officials in Brussels engaged with the document's language on defense spending, while leaders in Beijing and Moscow issued critiques through their foreign ministries. Regional actors including Seoul and Tokyo reacted to the strategy's posture on North Korea and China, and Middle Eastern governments in Riyadh, Tel Aviv, and Abu Dhabi responded to statements about Iran and counterterrorism. Analysts at International Monetary Fund-associated forums and at the World Economic Forum evaluated the strategy's economic-security nexus.
Criticisms and controversies
Critics from institutions such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Human Rights Watch argued the strategy overstated confrontation and under-emphasized multilateral institutions like the United Nations Security Council and the World Health Organization. Congressional Democrats and some Republicans disputed aspects tied to trade policy and alliance commitments during hearings in the United States Congress, while scholars at Harvard Kennedy School and Georgetown University published critiques about its treatment of international law and norms. Controversies also arose over perceived politicization during drafting, media coverage in outlets such as the New York Times and Washington Post, and debate over classified annexes reviewed by intelligence committees.
Legacy and subsequent developments
The 2018 Strategy influenced later policy shifts including budget priorities under subsequent defense reviews and strategic guidance issued by successors in the White House and at the Department of Defense. Elements foreshadowed institutional changes such as discussions that led to the establishment of the United States Space Force and informed diplomatic engagements culminating in summits with leaders from North Korea and trade talks with China. Academic programs at institutions like Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and legacy think tanks continued to analyze its implications for great-power competition, alliance management, and national resilience.