Assessing America’s national security strategy

On Oct. 12 the White House released a much awaited National Security Strategy or NSS 2022, which is a document that sets forward the US administration’s approach to US response to global crises, how it plans to deal with allies in various regions of the world and its foreign policy foundations regarding both Russia and China and how it views its role in a changing world, among others.

The 48-page document makes for an interesting reading although critics say such a paper is usually issued at the beginning of the presidency and not more than two years later. Moreover, the document comes a few weeks before US voters head for the crucial midterm elections that could render Joe Biden a lame duck president for the remainder of his first term.

In addition, the release of the document was made as the US and Europe found themselves embroiled in the most serious crisis since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Critics also say that the NSS has been written after the fact; meaning that the authors had the luxury of looking at how the world has evolved since Joe Biden took office and were able to make corrections that can be aligned to current policy.

Why has the White House taken so long to deliver it is an open question. But now that the NSS is made public, one can examine it and hope to understand what this Democratic administration is trying to achieve in terms of its foreign policy.

The Transatlantic alliance is facing new challenges as European voters and politicians cast doubt on this costly partnership. The reality is that America has the option to isolate itself from the rest of the world, focusing more on its southern hemisphere and the challenges it poses for the United States such illegal immigration and drugs.