Trump To Lay Out 'America First' Security Strategy
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published December 18, 2017 | 05:35 PM
President Donald Trump is set to lay out Monday a new National Security Strategy built upon his trademark "America First" slogan, which is expected to have economic security at its core
Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Dec, 2017 ) :President Donald Trump is set to lay out Monday a new National Security Strategy built upon his trademark "America First" slogan, which is expected to have economic security at its core.
The US leader, who has dismantled the legacy of Barack Obama on issues ranging from climate change to free trade, and isolated Washington on the world stage, will unveil what is being billed as a comprehensive vision for tackling America's complex security challenges.
The new document, released periodically by the presidency, "affirms the belief that America's economic security is national security," an administration official said. It also reflects a determination to push for balance in US economic relations with the rest of the world, especially China.
"The greatest weapon we have is our strong GDP," the official said, citing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Trump has taken an aggressive stance on trade. He vows to reduce bilateral trade deficits, particularly with China, and has said he wants to level the playing field for American companies.
Asked on Monday about the expected US strategy, Beijing's foreign ministry Hua Chunying said US-China economic and trade relations "are mutually beneficial." She added that she hoped the new US policy will contribute to "our common safeguard of the international peace and security." Trump's National Security Strategy was a year in the making.
Beyond its focus on economic competitiveness, it will mark a break with his Democratic and Republican predecessors when it comes to "homeland" and border security, the US official added. Trump has cracked down on immigration and wants a wall built on the Mexican border.
The new national security document is to be released following a speech by the president. It identifies four main priorities: protecting the country and the American people, promoting American prosperity, preserving peace through strength and advancing American influence.
- Climate not a priority - Addressing the United Nations in late September -- with a virulence rarely seen in that forum -- Trump hammered home his attachment to American "sovereignty" while calling into question many aspects of the multilateral world order.
But despite the fiery delivery, the address fell short of spelling out a veritable "Trump doctrine" regarding America's place in the world. Asked about the role of climate change in the new document, the administration official said it "is not identified as a national security threat" to the US.
Ascending to power on a message resolutely skeptical of climate change, Trump said in June that he would pull the US out of the Paris agreement on climate change signed by almost 200 countries.
Obama was one of the main architects of the Paris pact to curb global warming, and had underscored on several occasions how climate and security had become intertwined. A year before he left office, Obama said climate change would affect the way America's military must defend the country, through profound adjustments in organization, training and protection of infrastructure.
"Climate change is an urgent and growing threat to our national security, contributing to increased natural disasters, refugee flows and conflicts over basic resources like food and water," according to the last National Security Strategy, issued in February 2015 during Obama's tenure.
On that occasion he argued at length against the temptation to make hasty decisions in the management of international crises. "In a complex world, many of the security problems we face do not lend themselves to quick and easy fixes," Obama wrote, calling for "strategic patience and persistence."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From World
-
NFL will allow players to wear Guardian Cap helmets in games
5 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga table
5 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A result
5 hours ago -
Football: German Bundesliga results
5 hours ago -
US troops to leave Chad in second African state withdrawal
5 hours ago -
Plastics pollution may be solved without production cap: Canada minister
5 hours ago
-
Biden stalls on menthol cigarette ban fearing Black vote backlash
5 hours ago -
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
5 hours ago -
6,000 French police to welcome Olympic torch amid bonus boost
6 hours ago -
Taiwan hit by several quakes, strongest reaching 6.1-magnitude
6 hours ago -
'Ballistic' Bairstow stars as Punjab pull off record T20 chase
6 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 2nd update
6 hours ago