The Illusion of a Cost-Free Superpower

Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy is predicated on an untenable premise: attempting to restore American prominence while relinquishing the international obligations that underpin U.S. influence. The strategy aims to attract investment, generate revenue, and ensure compliance with allied partners, all while withdrawing the security protections that have historically bolstered American dominance. By reinstating the Monroe Doctrine and withdrawing from global leadership, Washington expedites the emergence of a multipolar world, diminishes alliances, and engenders strategic vacuums, particularly in East Asia and the Middle East. American influence has never been bestowed unconditionally; severing wealth from accountability undermines the very dominance that this strategy seeks to re-establish.