As an economic and military superpower, whenever the US releases its National Security Strategy it draws the world’s attention. The strategy affects not only the US but also the global security.

On 6 February 2015, the US President B. Obama released the “2015 National Security Strategy” of the US (2015 NSS). This is the second NSS during his two terms in office. The variable and invariable natures are the most predominant and notable in this strategy.

US President B. Obama annoucing his second NSS on 6 February 2015

According to observers, the invariable nature of the US 2015 NSS is manifested in its goals to maintain security, securing national interests and prosperity so that the US remains the number one superpower and maintains its role of leading the world. These are also the aims mentioned by any of the US NSS. The New York Times revealed that in the 29-page 2015 NSS, the phrase “leading the world” or those of equivalent meaning are mentioned roughly 100 times. However, the extent to which its invariable aims can be realized depends on the variables in the approach, methods, means and ways of implementation of each particular President of the US. The 2002 National Security Strategy was deeply imprinted by the former US President G.W. Bush with his “Unilateralism” and the military doctrine of “First Strike” to ensure the US national security, interests and its “leading the world” role. To implement the strategy, the US conducted the two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq despite the opposition of the international community. This not only inflicted casualties and economic damage on the US but also threatened the world security.

Taking his presidency in 2008, B. Obama  responsibly pledged to recover the US from the war aftermaths left by his predecessor. Since his presidency, B. Obama has released two national security strategies. The first one was on 27 May 2010 and the second one was on 6 February 2015. Notably, in both strategies, “Unilateralism” and the doctrine of “First Strike” have been removed.

The first national security strategy of president B. Obama held that: the US leadership should be consolidated with realistic steps to sustain its interests globally, and that: the US has grown stronger with more favourable conditions. Still, the 2010 NSS also acknowledged the US limited strength so it could not act alone to address global security challenges in such a world of complexities, instabilities and unpredictabilities. The US could not act unilaterally to solve the global issues in its own ways. To this extend, the US admitted a multi-polar world led by itself by more realistic and practical methods.

The 2015 strategy inherited the reasonability of the 2010 NSS but adding that: over the past 5 years, there have been many changes around the world, such as: the appearance of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS), the deteriorated relations with  Russia and the “rise” of China, etc. thus, the new strategy must contain “a new vision and strategies to promote the strong and sustainable leadership of the US, to safeguard its enduring national interests and universal values  and to advance a rules-based international order”.

For this reason, in the 2015 NSS, President B. Obama did not neglect completely the contents previous mentioned in 2010 and under Bush’s presidency but supplemented and focused on some aspects such as: cooperation with emerging powers (including China and India) while maintaining the close relation with traditional allies. At the same time, the US attaches more importance on economic cooperation with G-20 countries, not just on G-7 countries as before. Although President B. Obama did not mention the unilateral military action, the 2015 NSS did not completely negate the doctrine of First Strike as saying that the US will resort to unilateral action in case of emergencies.

One more important content is that the 2015 NSS admitted that the US national security is being threatened right inside their homeland. For the first time ever, internal enemies – American terrorists living in the US – have been considered a direct threat.

The strategy also defined extremism, violence, the aggression of Russia, cyber  attacks and climate change, etc as the most urgent challenges to the US. In addition, it also set out principles and priorities so that the US can maintain a more effective and realistic leadership over the world in 4 main areas, namely: security, prosperity, values and international order, by a new approach with variables.

Regarding security issue, the strategy mentioned 6 methods to advance the security of the US, its citizens, its allies and its partners. The NSS stressed the strengthen of its national defense, building of a smaller military that is best invested, trained and equipped in the world. “Shifting the global enduring security posture, enhancing the capabilities deciding the victories of the US and its  regional partners”. The 2015 strategy also stated that the US will continue to lead the global effort to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL. The strategy welcomed the cooperation with emerging powers and would be ready to deter the potential competitors. Besides, the strategy also stressed  the importance of reinforcing the US homeland security to secure its citizens and to better guard against terrorism.

On the “prosperity”, the 2015 strategy mapped out 5 means (including: put the US economy to work; advance its energy security; lead in science, technology and innovation; shape the global economic order; and end extreme poverty) to make the US economy stronger, more creative and grow sustainably in an open international economic system, providing more opportunities and prosperity for the US and the world as well.

On the values, the strategy pointed out 5 means to live the US value at home while promoting the universal values abroad; set out highest standards possible to ensure safety for American people and security for the US allies. It still stressed the “invariable” that America must “lead the world” in promoting and defending democracy, human rights, preventing violence that suppresses human rights. However, it mentioned new initiatives such as encouraging the change models of Tunisia and Myanmar (peaceful change); at the same time, empowering the initiative of “Young Leader” of the US president to multiply this model in governments, social organizations and entrepreneurs in regions globally, etc.

Regarding the international order, the 2015 NSS pointed out 7 methods (in terms of political, economic, military, diplomatic…aspects) to implement more effectively the US leading role in a changeable international order. The new point in this strategy is to utilize the open policy of Cuba to strengthen exchanges and foster the Western hemisphere of prosperity, security and democracy. In reality, the government of President B. Obama have been active in implementing the normalization of relation with Cuba, ending more than half a century of sanction against this country.

In general, the 2015 strategy has demonstrated its invariable goals with variable ones in a realistic, flexible manner. As shown in reality, the image of America under the presidency of B. Obama has been changed positively. The US economy has recovered and enjoyed a gradual growth. America is recovering its economic and military strength. These are favourable conditions for the US to realize its ambition of leading the world. In reality, we can see positive changes when the US implement its 2015 strategy, such as: improving and normalizing relations with Cuba; removing Syria’s chemical weapons; and supporting the existence of Israeli and Palestinian states, etc.

However, we also see a variety of negative factors and contradictions in the implementation of the  2015 NSS because of the fact that the US still wish to advance its values of democracy, human rights and other universal values to other countries. This includes the intervention into internal affairs, independence, sovereignty and stability of other countries. The fact that the US imposes its sanctions on Russia – a leading military and nuclear power makes this country come closer to China. This is harmful to the America’s ambition of leading the world and does no good for the US call for a coalition to counter terrorism as well as the settlement of hot issues in the world, such as the Ukrainian crisis, the Iranian nuclear crisis, and the Middle East peace process, etc.

The world community expects that national security strategies of superpowers both serve their own interests and promote peace, stability and development globally.

Kim Phuong