Dmitry Trenin, a research professor at the Higher School of Economics and the Russian International Affairs Council, who spoke at the Jan. 12 Roundtable Conference called by Helga Zepp-LaRouche, published an article on RT on Friday Jan. 30 under the title America First goes global, with subtitle “America narrows its focus, and sharpens its claws.” He analyses the recent National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy released by the Trump Administration, noting that the third expected report, the Nuclear Posture Review, is expected soon.
Trenin emphasizes the “blunt, almost cynical tone. The usual moral packaging has largely disappeared. That clarity, uncomfortable as it may be, is useful.”
The “rules based order” is missing, as well as the “missionary liberalism of ‘nation-building’ through regime change.” But, he adds, “Washington is not repenting, but drawing a pragmatic conclusion: attempts to remake other societies in America’s image have proven too costly and too unreliable.”
He claims there is a more fundamental shift: “The US implicitly acknowledges that it can no longer exercise universal control in a multipolar world. Resources must be concentrated. Commitments must be prioritized. Allies are no longer to be indulged as dependents. They are expected to pay more, do more, and demand less political autonomy in return. In effect, Washington is rationalizing its empire.” Thus, the title about taking MAGA global.
