US National Security Strategy: America 1st
On Dec. 4, President Donald Trump's administration presented the National Security Strategy, a document submitted to Congress that outlines the country's national security objectives, perceived threats and strategic priorities.
More than a bureaucratic exercise, the NSS has a profound impact on U.S. foreign policy and, by extension, on its neighbors and allies. It influences military budgets, international alliances and decisions that can alter the regional balance, especially in Latin America, where Mexico has historically been vulnerable to adjustments and changes in U.S. national security policy.
The 2025 NSS represents a radical break from previous strategies and bluntly presents the America First agenda, something we’re familiar with; it has been President Trump's primary focus since he began his presidential campaign. The document reflects how, after years of relative disinterest in Latin America — with past attention focused on the Middle East, Asia and Europe — his sights are now set on the Western Hemisphere as an absolute priority.
It explicitly revives a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, asserting that the United States will enforce regional dominance by excluding “non-hemispheric competitors,” such as China and Russia. This approach, which prioritizes firmly curbing mass migration, drug trafficking and foreign influence, reveals an exclusionary and potentially interventionist vision.
The document identifies the Western Hemisphere as a strategic hub, requiring stable governments that cooperate in controlling migration and fighting transnational criminal and terrorist organizations. In particular, it emphasizes the fight against fentanyl, linking the drug’s production to Chinese networks that supply its precursors to Mexican cartels.
The narrative of the National Security Strategy is not new, but it takes an alarming tone by suggesting possible military action against cartels throughout the hemisphere. It even warns of potential incursions into Mexican territory.
For our country, this alludes to pressure we have dealt with since President Trump arrived in the White House. The document makes it clear that Mexico must become a “compulsory ally” in a shared problem and the strategy threatens Mexico with unilateral action if its efforts don’t align with U.S. demands.
The Brookings Institution, in an article, “Breaking Down Trump's 2025 National Security Strategy,” describes this approach as “neo-imperialist.” It notes that the “Trump Corollary” justifies military strikes against cartels other than those already designated as terrorist, thus violating principles of sovereignty.
This vision has recently materialized in symbolic and concrete action. On Dec. 15, 2025, Trump signed an executive order declaring fentanyl a “weapon of mass destruction.” This classification, equating the opioid crisis to a chemical threat, provides legal tools for sanctions, covert operations and possible intervention.
The consequences for Mexico could be serious: This intensifies pressure on cartels, but also “stigmatizes” the country as the source of a “weapon” that kills hundreds of thousands of Americans annually. As for China, it opens the door to punitive tariffs and trade restrictions, escalating bilateral tension. The administration could use this executive order to justify increased aggression in the war on drugs.
Even more provocative is the resurgence of a military declaration evoking painful episodes in our shared history. Trump has established the Mexican Border Defense Medal, recently awarded to troops for defending the border from drug traffickers and immigrants. This medal directly references the Mexican Service Medal of 1916-1917, created to recognize U.S. military personnel in their fight against Pancho Villa's forces. The popular saying goes that in politics, form is substance, so it is worth asking ourselves: By reviving this symbolism, is the administration seeking to equate the current fight against cartels and migration with a historical incursion into Mexican territory? This would undoubtedly characterize Mexico as a constant threat.
The situation has become more complex and the issue is far-reaching. We must recognize that, although it is difficult to admit, President Trump's influence has grown significantly, as we have observed in Chile, Argentina, Honduras, and, of course, Venezuela and Colombia. Democracy has begun a significant shift toward right-wing governance, which will undoubtedly allow Trump to intervene more and isolate Mexico from her allies.
The 2025 National Security Strategy is not just a guiding document; it is a declaration of renewed hegemony that threatens the sovereignty of Mexico and many other countries under the pretext of shared security. It imposes a unilateral agenda that ignores the structural roots of migration and drug trafficking.
As I said in January, Trump is not merely making threats. He has been consistently convinced in the efficacy of his strategy since his campaign. He has defended it, despite the complexity of his current economic situation. He will not back down.
The author is a consultant on security, intelligence, education, religion, justice and politics.
More than a bureaucratic exercise, the NSS has a profound impact on U.S. foreign policy and, by extension, on its neighbors and allies. It influences military budgets, international alliances and decisions that can alter the regional balance, especially in Latin America, where Mexico has historically been vulnerable to adjustments and changes in U.S. national security policy.
The 2025 NSS represents a radical break from previous strategies and bluntly presents the America First agenda, something we’re familiar with; it has been President Trump's primary focus since he began his presidential campaign. The document reflects how, after years of relative disinterest in Latin America — with past attention focused on the Middle East, Asia and Europe — his sights are now set on the Western Hemisphere as an absolute priority.
It explicitly revives a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, asserting that the United States will enforce regional dominance by excluding “non-hemispheric competitors,” such as China and Russia. This approach, which prioritizes firmly curbing mass migration, drug trafficking and foreign influence, reveals an exclusionary and potentially interventionist vision.
The document identifies the Western Hemisphere as a strategic hub, requiring stable governments that cooperate in controlling migration and fighting transnational criminal and terrorist organizations. In particular, it emphasizes the fight against fentanyl, linking the drug’s production to Chinese networks that supply its precursors to Mexican cartels.
The narrative of the National Security Strategy is not new, but it takes an alarming tone by suggesting possible military action against cartels throughout the hemisphere. It even warns of potential incursions into Mexican territory.
For our country, this alludes to pressure we have dealt with since President Trump arrived in the White House. The document makes it clear that Mexico must become a “compulsory ally” in a shared problem and the strategy threatens Mexico with unilateral action if its efforts don’t align with U.S. demands.
The Brookings Institution, in an article, “Breaking Down Trump's 2025 National Security Strategy,” describes this approach as “neo-imperialist.” It notes that the “Trump Corollary” justifies military strikes against cartels other than those already designated as terrorist, thus violating principles of sovereignty.
This vision has recently materialized in symbolic and concrete action. On Dec. 15, 2025, Trump signed an executive order declaring fentanyl a “weapon of mass destruction.” This classification, equating the opioid crisis to a chemical threat, provides legal tools for sanctions, covert operations and possible intervention.
The consequences for Mexico could be serious: This intensifies pressure on cartels, but also “stigmatizes” the country as the source of a “weapon” that kills hundreds of thousands of Americans annually. As for China, it opens the door to punitive tariffs and trade restrictions, escalating bilateral tension. The administration could use this executive order to justify increased aggression in the war on drugs.
Even more provocative is the resurgence of a military declaration evoking painful episodes in our shared history. Trump has established the Mexican Border Defense Medal, recently awarded to troops for defending the border from drug traffickers and immigrants. This medal directly references the Mexican Service Medal of 1916-1917, created to recognize U.S. military personnel in their fight against Pancho Villa's forces. The popular saying goes that in politics, form is substance, so it is worth asking ourselves: By reviving this symbolism, is the administration seeking to equate the current fight against cartels and migration with a historical incursion into Mexican territory? This would undoubtedly characterize Mexico as a constant threat.
The situation has become more complex and the issue is far-reaching. We must recognize that, although it is difficult to admit, President Trump's influence has grown significantly, as we have observed in Chile, Argentina, Honduras, and, of course, Venezuela and Colombia. Democracy has begun a significant shift toward right-wing governance, which will undoubtedly allow Trump to intervene more and isolate Mexico from her allies.
The 2025 National Security Strategy is not just a guiding document; it is a declaration of renewed hegemony that threatens the sovereignty of Mexico and many other countries under the pretext of shared security. It imposes a unilateral agenda that ignores the structural roots of migration and drug trafficking.
As I said in January, Trump is not merely making threats. He has been consistently convinced in the efficacy of his strategy since his campaign. He has defended it, despite the complexity of his current economic situation. He will not back down.
The author is a consultant on security, intelligence, education, religion, justice and politics.
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