The American Strategic Shift: Towards Increasing Local and Isolationist Priorities
September 8, 2025165 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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The American policy has undergone significant transformations since the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term last January, as Washington has taken a series of actions that reflect a new vision combining rising military aggressiveness and isolationism towards international commitments.
The most prominent of these transformations was Trump's decision to rename the Department of Defense to the "Department of War," as it was known from its establishment in 1789 until 1947. This symbolic change is accompanied by a tangible strategic shift in the Pentagon's priorities, where local and regional missions overshadow the American defense strategy, according to the draft of the new National Defense Strategy.
Politico revealed that Pentagon officials proposed prioritizing local and surrounding regional missions, representing a departure from the policies of previous administrations that focused on the Chinese threat and competition with major powers. This shift is led by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's chief policy officer, who advocates for a more isolationist American policy and aligns with Vice President JD Vance's vision of ending American foreign commitments.
The effects of this new strategy have begun to emerge through practical steps such as withdrawing funding from the Baltic Security Initiative that supported Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, and deploying thousands of National Guard members in American cities like Los Angeles and Washington, as well as sending warships and F-35 aircraft to the Caribbean region to combat drug trafficking.
In the context of focusing on "regional risks," relations with Venezuela have seen a notable escalation. Reports indicated that Trump is considering options for carrying out military strikes targeting drug gangs operating in Venezuela, including strikes within Venezuelan territory. This escalation follows an American strike that targeted a Venezuelan boat in the Caribbean, resulting in the death of 11 people.
These transformations seem to affect relations with traditional allies, as the American administration will demand that allies take on more responsibility for their security. This trend could change the dynamics of international alliances and regional power balances.
These strategic transformations represent a redefinition of the American role in the world, as the current administration prefers to focus on direct regional threats and domestic issues at the expense of traditional international commitments. This new path could mark a turning point in American foreign policy and its impact on the international system.
The most prominent of these transformations was Trump's decision to rename the Department of Defense to the "Department of War," as it was known from its establishment in 1789 until 1947. This symbolic change is accompanied by a tangible strategic shift in the Pentagon's priorities, where local and regional missions overshadow the American defense strategy, according to the draft of the new National Defense Strategy.
Politico revealed that Pentagon officials proposed prioritizing local and surrounding regional missions, representing a departure from the policies of previous administrations that focused on the Chinese threat and competition with major powers. This shift is led by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon's chief policy officer, who advocates for a more isolationist American policy and aligns with Vice President JD Vance's vision of ending American foreign commitments.
The effects of this new strategy have begun to emerge through practical steps such as withdrawing funding from the Baltic Security Initiative that supported Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, and deploying thousands of National Guard members in American cities like Los Angeles and Washington, as well as sending warships and F-35 aircraft to the Caribbean region to combat drug trafficking.
In the context of focusing on "regional risks," relations with Venezuela have seen a notable escalation. Reports indicated that Trump is considering options for carrying out military strikes targeting drug gangs operating in Venezuela, including strikes within Venezuelan territory. This escalation follows an American strike that targeted a Venezuelan boat in the Caribbean, resulting in the death of 11 people.
These transformations seem to affect relations with traditional allies, as the American administration will demand that allies take on more responsibility for their security. This trend could change the dynamics of international alliances and regional power balances.
These strategic transformations represent a redefinition of the American role in the world, as the current administration prefers to focus on direct regional threats and domestic issues at the expense of traditional international commitments. This new path could mark a turning point in American foreign policy and its impact on the international system.
