Russia has welcomed the new US security strategy, describing the document as closely aligned with its own worldview, even as European officials express unease about Washington’s shift in tone.
The thirty three page strategy, unveiled this week by the Trump administration, frames Europe as facing “civilisational erasure” and downplays Russia as a strategic threat, prompting mixed reactions across NATO capitals.
The US security strategy outlines priorities that include combating foreign influence, curbing mass migration and resisting what it describes as restrictive speech practices within the European Union.
The document argues that several European nations may lack the military and economic strength to remain reliable long term partners and calls for the revival of what it terms “Western identity.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the changes marked a “positive step” that mirrors Moscow’s long standing concerns over Europe’s political direction.
The adjustments we are seeing are largely consistent with our vision, Peskov said in comments published by state news agency Tass.
The report’s softer language toward Russia comes as the EU and the United States continue negotiations on a possible framework to end the war in Ukraine.
Several European officials have questioned the strategy’s assertions that Brussels is obstructing US peace efforts. Security analysts noted that the US security strategy could signal a reordering of American priorities that may unsettle longstanding alliances.
Dr. Helena Kraus, a security scholar at the Berlin Institute for Strategic Studies, said the shift reflects “a deliberate repositioning that places cultural and ideological issues at the center of foreign policy.”
“This strategy may appeal to some nationalist factions within Europe, but it risks widening a gap between Washington and traditional EU partners,” Kraus said.
Michael Davenport, a former UK diplomat now at the Transatlantic Policy Forum in Brussels, said the language on “Western identity” resembles rhetoric used by far right parties.
“The references are not accidental. They align with political actors seeking to redefine European institutions from within,” he said.
In previous national security strategies, the United States identified Russia as one of its primary geopolitical adversaries. Analysts pointed out several departures in the latest version:
Russia threat downgraded: Earlier strategies explicitly warned of Russian aggression, cyber activity and disinformation campaigns.
EU criticism elevated: The new report devotes extensive sections to Europe’s internal politics, far more than before.
Far right engagement: The document praises “patriotic European parties,” a notable contrast to traditional U.S. support for centrist governments.
Defense commitments expanded in Asia: Japan, South Korea, Australia and Taiwan are urged to increase military spending.
The US security strategy also outlines plans to target drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific, raising questions about the potential for military activity near Venezuela.
Reactions across Europe have been mixed. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the United States remained Germany’s most important ally but warned that internal societal debates should not be part of strategic documents.
“Questions of freedom of expression or the organization of our free societies do not belong in the strategy, at least not regarding Germany,” Wadephul said Friday.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk responded in a social media post directed at “American friends,” arguing that Europe is Washington’s closest partner. “Europe is your ally, not your problem,” Tusk wrote, adding that the two share “common enemies.”
In Stockholm, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt said during a public forum that the document “places itself to the right of the extreme right,” calling the shift unprecedented in modern transatlantic relations.
Ordinary Europeans expressed a mix of uncertainty and frustration. Marta Lindgren, a university student in Gothenburg, said the strategy “feels like an outsider telling Europeans who they should be.”
Meanwhile, Piotr Nowak, a shop owner in Krakow, said the concerns are overstated. “The US has the right to set its own priorities. Europe will adapt, like always,” he said.
Diplomats said the strategy’s framing could complicate ongoing US EU efforts to establish a unified approach to ending the war in Ukraine.
A senior EU official, speaking on background, said the bloc intends to “carefully assess” the implications before adjusting any negotiating positions.
Experts warned that increased U.S. engagement with far right parties could reshape political debates across Europe, particularly ahead of national elections in several member states next year.
At the same time, Moscow’s approval of the US security strategy may raise concerns within NATO about maintaining a coherent front against Russian influence.
As governments and analysts continue to dissect the US security strategy, its long term impact on transatlantic relations remains unclear.
While Moscow has applauded the shift, EU leaders appear divided over the strategic and political consequences.
The coming months are expected to test how Washington balances domestic priorities with its international commitments amid an evolving geopolitical landscape.
