Trump unveils strategy to shield US from threats

Washington, June 24 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled a new national resilience strategy aimed at ensuring that no adversary, crisis or disruption can threaten America’s core interests, placing national security, supply chains, infrastructure and technology at the centre of a broad government overhaul.

The strategy, released by the White House, sets a national goal that “no adversary or hazard should be able to hold America or our core interests at risk” and seeks to strengthen the country’s ability to withstand security threats, economic shocks, public health emergencies and infrastructure failures.

The document describes resilience as a strategic capability that promotes prosperity, deters adversaries and preserves US freedom of action during crises.

“From the moment I returned to office last year, I made a solemn vow to our Nation and the world that on my watch, no adversary or danger should be able to hold America at risk,” Trump wrote in a message accompanying the strategy.

“My National Resilience Strategy ensures this vital mission will endure for generations to come,” he said.

The plan outlines four guiding principles — prioritise, modernise, distribute and simplify — that will be applied across four key sectors: national security, the economy, public health and safety, and national infrastructure.

The US administration said resilience would become a core national objective, supported by government, industry, communities and citizens.

A central element of the strategy is modernisation.

The document calls for upgrading ageing infrastructure, strengthening supply chains and expanding the use of emerging technologies.

“We must foster the affordable and secure integration of US technology to maximise resilience, including trustworthy US artificial intelligence capabilities,” the strategy says.

The document also links resilience to economic competitiveness. It calls for protecting critical goods, commodities, services and networks while limiting adversaries’ access to advanced American technologies and preventing foreign exploitation of US markets and research funding.

On national security, the strategy said that resilient communications networks, modern infrastructure and distributed command systems are essential to ensuring that adversaries cannot disrupt US decision-making or critical operations.

The plan also reflects Trump’s emphasis on federalism. The strategy says responsibility for resilience should be shared among individuals, businesses, states and local governments rather than relying primarily on Washington.

“Under my leadership, we are returning power back to the American People — shifting authority from Washington, D.C. to States and communities where it belongs,” Trump wrote.

The strategy also calls for reducing bureaucracy, streamlining government processes and improving information sharing across agencies and sectors.

The White House said the framework would help create what it described as an “America First” resilience model that protects lives, strengthens economic growth and supports long-term national security.

–IANS

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