The US Defense Department's latest National Defense Strategy (NDS), released under the Trump administration, has been criticized for its glaring omission of climate change as a national security concern.This exclusion raises questions about the administration's understanding of the multifaceted threats facing the United States today.The NDS is characterized by a reliance on familiar Trumpian rhetoric, including phrases like "America First" and "making America great again." However, critics argue that the document reflects a troubling narrowness in defining security challenges, particularly by neglecting climate change, which has been recognized as a critical factor affecting global stability and US military operations.
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foreignpolicy.comOne of the most significant concerns is the impact of climate change on military readiness.The previous NDS acknowledged that climate change poses risks to both the safety of the civilian population and the continuity of operations at key military installations.In contrast, the new strategy fails to address these issues, ignoring the reality that extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and wildfires, have increasingly required military intervention for domestic disaster response.
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foreignpolicy.comIn 2025 alone, the US military was deployed 50 times to manage climate-related disasters, activating thousands of service members to combat wildfires in California and other states.
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foreignpolicy.comSuch demands on military resources are expected to grow, especially as the administration continues to dismantle critical agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which traditionally supports disaster preparedness and response efforts.
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blog.ucs.orgMoreover, the NDS overlooks the connection between climate change and migration, a topic frequently highlighted by the Trump administration.Research indicates that climate-induced conditions, particularly in Central America, contributed significantly to migration patterns seen in recent years.Acknowledging this link would require the NDS to move beyond simplistic narratives and recognize that not every threat can be addressed through military might.
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foreignpolicy.comThe document's failure to incorporate climate considerations extends to its treatment of the Indo-Pacific region, where US military installations are increasingly vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather.Critics note that climate change poses a more immediate threat to US interests in the region than the military posture of China, which the NDS identifies as a core strategic challenge.However, for many of the United States' partners in the region, climate change remains a pressing concern that could undermine security cooperation and stability.
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foreignpolicy.comAdditionally, the NDS lacks a comprehensive strategy for energy resilience, which is vital for military operations, particularly in a potential conflict scenario in the Pacific.The document emphasizes rebuilding the defense industrial base but neglects the necessary investments in energy logistics and critical minerals required for modern defense technology.This oversight raises concerns about the military's ability to sustain operations in a resource-constrained environment, particularly as tensions with adversaries like China escalate.
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foreignpolicy.comThe Trump administration's approach to national defense is further complicated by its broader geopolitical strategy, which focuses on burden-shifting and prioritizing economic interests over collaborative security efforts.This posture may alienate traditional allies and partners, who may feel compelled to realign their interests in light of the US refusal to acknowledge shared threats, including climate impacts.Such dynamics could inadvertently push allies closer to adversarial powers that are more attuned to the implications of climate change on security.
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foreignpolicy.combrookings.eduThe NDS, while claiming to offer a hard-nosed and realistic approach to defense, ultimately reflects a form of wishful thinking.Ignoring critical threats like climate change not only undermines the military's operational readiness but also risks alienating allies and partners who recognize the importance of addressing environmental challenges in a collaborative manner.As history has shown, hope is not a strategy, and failure to adapt to emerging realities could have dire consequences for national and global security.
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foreignpolicy.comIn summary, Trump's National Defense Strategy represents a significant step backward in recognizing and addressing the multifaceted threats posed by climate change.As the US military grapples with increasingly complex challenges, a more comprehensive and realistic approach is needed—one that includes climate change as a central element of national security planning and strategy.
