December 12, 2025
Transatlantic Tensions in the New National Security Strategy
On December 4th, the Trump administration released its long-awaited national security strategy, sending another round of shock waves through the transatlantic community. The National Security Strategy acknowledges that Europe remains strategically vital to the United States and doubles down on the need for Europe to take more responsibility for its defense, but the strategy is unique in its condemnation of allies, focus on “civilizational erasure”, and promise to intervene to “help Europe correct its current trajectory.”
While the 2017 National Security Strategy explicitly laid out several threats Russia poses to American interests, this one makes little mention of Russia except for calls to restore strategic stability. Many of America's European allies are feeling unsettled and concerned about what it means for transatlantic relations. To help us understand the new National Security Strategy, how it differs from Trump's first strategy and where the through lines are, we're excited to welcome Nadia Shadlow and Rebecca Heinrich to Brussels Sprouts.
- Nadia Schadlow is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and a co-chair of the Hamilton Commission on Securing America’s National Security Innovation Base
- Rebeccah Heinrichs is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and the director of Keystone Defense Initiative
More from CNAS
-
The Russia Stability Tracker
Reports
In February 2023—one year into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine—the Center for a New American Security convened a group of leading U.S. experts on Putin’s Rus...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor
-
Russian Hybrid Attacks and Europe's Response
Podcast
Europe is facing an escalation in high-profile Russian hybrid attacks. Earlier this month, Germany attributed an attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport to Moscow, Denmark a...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend
-
Sep 25, ’26 Washington Roundtable
Podcast
Jim Townsend, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, joins the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast to discuss Pentagon officials engaging defense ...
By Jim Townsend
-
A Rearmed Germany's Place in Europe
Podcast
Today we are taking a closer look at Germany as it returns to military power. As the United States pulls back from Europe and threats of Russian aggression are heightened, Ger...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend
