Trump administration says Europe faces 'civilisational erasure'

December 5, 2025

President Trump's administration has released a 33-page National Security Strategy document that sharply criticizes European nations, warning they face potential "civilizational erasure" due to migration policies, declining birth rates, and loss of national identity. The strategy questions whether certain European countries can maintain strong enough economies and militaries to remain dependable US allies, while simultaneously praising "patriotic European parties" and calling for restoration of Western identity. The document also outlines plans to refocus American military resources toward the Western Hemisphere and away from less strategically important regions, while strengthening US presence in the Pacific to counter China.

Who is affected

European nations and the European Union collectively
Germany specifically, including Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul
Far-right political parties in Europe, particularly Germany's AfD party
Ukraine and Russia in the ongoing war
US allies in Asia: Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Taiwan
China regarding Taiwan and South China Sea issues
Countries in the Western Hemisphere and Caribbean region
Drug traffickers targeted by US military strikes in the Caribbean

What action is being taken

The US military is increasing its presence in the Caribbean with deadly strikes on boats alleged to be carrying drugs
The USS Gerald Ford (the world's largest warship) and its strike group are currently deployed in the Caribbean
The Trump administration is fostering links with Germany's far-right AfD party
Trump's envoy is presenting modified peace plans to Moscow regarding the Ukraine war
The Trump administration is implementing sweeping global tariffs

Why it matters

This National Security Strategy represents a significant shift in how the United States views its traditional European allies, potentially straining decades-old transatlantic relationships that have formed the backbone of Western security cooperation. The document's criticism of European migration policies, political systems, and cultural direction, combined with its endorsement of nationalist movements, signals a fundamental realignment of US foreign policy priorities away from conventional alliance structures. The strategy's call to redistribute military assets toward the Western Hemisphere and Pacific region indicates concrete changes in global military deployments that could affect security arrangements worldwide, while the questioning of European allies' reliability undermines NATO cohesion at a time when Europe faces active conflict on its borders with the war in Ukraine.

What's next

The US plans to readjust its global military presence by moving assets away from less important theaters toward the Western Hemisphere
The administration intends to harden and strengthen US military presence in the Western Pacific
The US will push for increased defense spending from Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Taiwan
Managing European relations with Russia will require significant US involvement going forward
The administration plans to push for a stronger US industrial base and reduced reliance on foreign technologies

Read full article from source: BBC