A draft of the Trump Administration’s National Defense Strategy has reportedly landed on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s desk. According to Politico’s unnamed sources, it “places domestic and regional missions above countering adversaries such as Beijing and Moscow.” This, Politico says, is a major shift from recent Democrat and Republican administrations, including President Donald Trump’s first term in office, when he referred to Beijing as America’s greatest rival. Furthermore, it would likely inflame China hawks in both parties who view the country’s leadership as a danger to U.S. security.
“This is going to be a major shift for the U.S. and its allies on multiple continents,” said a source, briefed on the draft document. “The old, trusted U.S. promises are being questioned.” Politico notes that the shift is already occurring, citing, among other things, the militarization of the southern border with Mexico, the deployment of National Guard troops into Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and the deployment of naval forces into the Caribbean.
