CONFLICTED What Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy Means For The World
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Dec 18, 2025 Geary Rajendran, a political and financial analyst based in Singapore, shares insights on the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy. He highlights its departure from the old liberal order and the shift towards prioritizing economic security and industrial competition, especially with China. Rajendran argues that the U.S. is moving to deepen economic ties in the Middle East while reconsidering Russia as a potential ally. The discussion also covers NATO’s burden-sharing challenges in Europe and the implications of multipolarity in global governance.
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Less Rhetoric, Same Competition
- The 2025 document downplays explicit 'great power competition' language compared with 2017.
- Geary argues Trump treats big powers as obvious rivals and thus omits repetitive rhetoric.
From Collective Threats To Sovereign Focus
- Trump-era strategies frame problems as national rather than collective threats and deprioritize values-based campaigns.
- The 2025 text removes climate as a collective threat and replaces it with energy dominance.
Lead From Rear: Force Allies To Shoulder Burdens
- The administration favors 'lead from behind' strategic leadership over front-line intervention.
- Geary says the US will coordinate and enable allies to shoulder frontline burdens rather than lead charges itself.
