ASP Discusses Implications of National Security Strategy
The American Security Project was featured in multiple media outlets discussing the recently released National Security Strategy. The new strategy outlined the Trump Administration’s national security priorities; focusing on economic competition with other global powers including China and Russia. What was visibly missing from the document was any mention of climate change as a threat to national security.
Scientific America quoted ASP’s Director of Studies Andrew Holland on the subject in their recent article, “Trump Drops Climate Threats from National Security Strategy.” Holland explained that while it would be preferable to have the threat of climate change listed in the document, the military is already planning for the threats of climate change and will continue to do that regardless of the strategy. He noted that,
“The National Security Strategy is a political document put out by the White House…The top-ranking individual who has a position on this is Secretary Mattis, and he’s said climate change is real, it’s happening and we have to plan for it, we have to prepare for it.”
In addition to covering the lack of climate change in the document, Holland highlighted the concerning language around energy security in the document. He noted that while developing traditional and non-traditional energy sources is and will remain important in the years to come, the document’s use of word’s like “dominance” is problematic. Specifically, it “implies is that somebody’s dominant and somebody’s submissive…(and) that’s not a way to get others to do what you want them to do in global affairs.”
Holland spoke to several other media outlets on the subject including, a live video broadcasting with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), and two E&E News articles. Links to each are below.
- Video: “US Plays Down Climate Change” Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
- Article: “Climate to get a bit part in Trump’s security plan” by Nick Sobczyk, E&E News
- Article: “Trump plan stresses ‘energy dominance,’ infrastructure” by Nick Sobczyk, E&E News
For more from American Security Project on climate security and energy security, check out our guides on Climate Security and Energy Security.
