#nationalsecuritystrategy

The Situation Report Publication writes, “U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly released 29-page National Security Strategy placed China at the Center of U.S. Policy Priorities for the coming Years".

While the Document discussed tensions in the South China Sea and emphasized the need to maintain U.S. Military dominance across the First Island Chain, Analysts noted that it did not mention the Philippines, a formal U.S. Defense Treaty Ally.

Zack Cooper of the American Enterprise Institute wrote on X that Southeast Asia was “almost completely absent” from the Strategy and highlighted that the Philippines “isn't even mentioned.”

“China is by far the biggest Focus in Asia (and elsewhere). Trump team clearly seeing all of Asia through the Lens of China. Southeast Asia? Almost completely absent. US Treaty Ally Philippines isn't even mentioned! Pacific Islands also nowhere to be seen," Cooper said.

Derek Grossman of the Center for a New American Security likewise observed “basically zero discussion” of Southeast Asia or the Pacific Islands.

This cartoon captures the fractured US-EU alliance under Trump’s security doctrine, symbolizing geopolitical strain, ideological clashes, and the emotional fallout of transatlantic disengagement.

Here are selected Excerpts from an interesting Article talking about how the United States (US) continues to interfere in the Philippines’ Local Political Affairs to ensure that their Interests are protected, and keep the Philippines remain under their Sphere of Influence:

“For its highest Global Priority of "out-competing China and constraining Russia," spelled out in the US National Security Strategy (https://tinyurl.com/4xvyut3f), Washington's Paramount Objective in our Country is to deploy massive Forces here with access to Bases of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).”

“Uncle Sam's other Agenda, predicted by this Column in March 2023 ("To keep its Bases, will the US take on Sara?" https://tinyurl.com/yr2cnys3), is to perpetuate America's armed Might here by ensuring that Vice President Sara Duterte doesn't succeed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in 2028.”

“Her Father, then-president Rodrigo Duterte, stymied US Military Deployment here and nearly nixed the Visiting Forces Agreement that provides a Legal Basis to EDCA. So, the Marcos Camp turned against VP Sara after Marcos opened nine Bases to America in February last Year. It also began boosting his Cousin, House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez.”

Here is the Link to the Article on the “The Manila Times” Website: https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/08/22/opinion/columns/americas-agenda-blinds-our-leaders-and-media/1965851