Hegseth Unveils National Security Strategy: Focus on Western Hemisphere
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took center stage at California’s Reagan National Defense Forum to solidify the Trump administration’s strategic pivot, endorsing the recently released National Security Strategy while outlining a military agenda distinctly focused on Western Hemisphere primacy and great power competition.
Hegseth’s keynote address struck a decisive tone, rejecting what he characterized as distracting policy pursuits. “The War Department will not be distracted by democracy building, interventionism, undefined wars, regime change, climate change, woke moralizing and feckless nation building,” he told an audience of lawmakers, military officials and defense industry leaders. “We will instead put our nation’s practical, concrete interests first.”
The endorsed National Security Strategy outlines four primary military objectives: defending the homeland and Western Hemisphere, deterring China, increasing allied burden-sharing, and accelerating the US defense industrial base. The strategy’s most provocative element centers on a re-envisioned Monroe Doctrine—the 1823 policy prohibiting European powers from regional intervention.
“After years of neglect, the United States will restore US military dominance in the Western Hemisphere,” Hegseth stated, pledging to protect homeland access and deny adversaries positioning capabilities in the region. He directly addressed predecessor administrations’ assumptions: “Past administrations perpetuated the belief that the Monroe Doctrine had expired. They were wrong. The Monroe Doctrine is in effect, and it is stronger than ever.”
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine indicated the strategy could necessitate redeploying “combat power” regionally, though specific force posture changes remain undefined.
The Western Hemisphere focus represents a notable strategic recalibration. Previous administrations consistently emphasized Indo-Pacific pivots to counter Chinese military expansion. While the new strategy maintains Taiwan deterrence as a priority and calls for First Island Chain denial capabilities, the hemispheric emphasis signals revised regional allocation.
Regarding China, Hegseth proposed establishing stable peace, fair trade relationships, and expanded military-to-military communications with the People’s Liberation Army.
The strategy’s European provisions—warning of “civilizational erasure” and seemingly opposing NATO expansion—have generated swift congressional concern. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) called the document a “bad strategy,” criticizing its criticism of Europe over Russia and apparent NATO retrenchment messaging. “They didn’t coordinate with Congress, they didn’t coordinate with Romania,” Bacon told Breaking Defense, referencing potential troop reductions in Eastern Europe.
House Armed Services Committee ranking Democrat Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) characterized it as the most “unprincipled” National Security Strategy he has encountered, questioning the document’s abandonment of values-based foreign policy frameworks. Smith expressed skepticism about congressional Republican willingness to challenge the administration’s assertions.
While the strategy establishes four clear military priorities, specifics regarding force structure, basing decisions, and NATO commitment levels remain pending the forthcoming National Defense Strategy. The strategy’s reception suggests evolving congressional scrutiny, potentially limiting the administration’s tactical flexibility despite current Republican majorities.
Source ID: SRCE-2025-1765069486220-1221