US Foreign Policy Shift: Is Russia Today a Real Threat?

The challenges faced by the Western Alliance aren't rooted in misunderstandings or petty disputes, nor should they be addressed with the kind of personal attacks that have been exchanged. The United States has embarked on a strategic reorientation, outlined in the 2025 National Security Strategy, the 2026 National Defence Strategy, and the foreign policy summary known as Project 2025. The divide lies between those who understand and adapt to these documents and those who do not. The foundation of the new American foreign policy is the defense of its homeland and interests in the Western Hemisphere, along with deterring China in the Indo-Pacific through strength, not aggression or conflict. It also involves increasing and rewarding burden-sharing with allies. In the 2026 National Defence Strategy, Defence Secretary Hegseth highlighted these changes, emphasizing the points mentioned, and stated that the US government had neglected to prioritize American interests. He asserted that this was a strategic approach "to the threats the nation faced, based on a flexible and practical realism”. The documents reflect the Trump administration's view that wealthy allies capable of defending themselves should do so, with NATO members committing to spend five percent of their GDP on defense by 2035. Countries aligning with these new goals are promised "more favourable treatment on commercial matters, technology sharing, and defence procurement.” The national defense strategy explicitly prioritizes