National Security Experts Evaluate Trump’s Strategy Against China
National security experts are highlighting various military, economic, technological, and diplomatic strategies employed by President Trump’s administration. They assert that these moves have positioned the United States more favorably in its ongoing competition with China, especially as Washington anticipates another meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Michael Lucci, founder and CEO of State Armor, shared with Breitbart News that, despite media focus on Trump’s interactions with Xi Jinping, significant geopolitical strategies are unfolding behind the scenes. He mentioned that Trump recently finalized a pivotal agreement with Denmark and Greenland, securing a lasting U.S. presence in the Arctic and limiting Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere.
Moreover, Trump has led NATO allies to increase their defense spending, provided military support to Ukraine and Taiwan, restricted China’s access to oil imports from Venezuela and Iran, and restructured American supply chains to reduce dependency on China, particularly through the Pax Silica initiative. Lucci concluded that thanks to Trump’s actions, the U.S. is now in a much stronger negotiating position compared to the stagnant period experienced during Biden’s administration.
Mike Martin, a former senior national security official in the Trump administration, emphasized that confronting China has been integral to Trump’s economic and national security policies. He insisted that this approach should persist as competition with China extends into realms like artificial intelligence, which will define America’s future economic and national security landscape.
Martin noted that the U.S. must avoid substituting one strategic dependency for another. The American AI sector should remain open, innovative, and competitive while addressing efforts by China to gain leverage over U.S. industries and institutions.
Here are specific actions taken by the Trump administration in its strategic rivalry with China:
Strengthening NATO and Arctic Security
NATO members have consented to enhance defense spending to five percent of GDP by 2035, including at least 3.5 percent for direct military needs, a decision driven by years of Trump pressuring European countries to boost their defense budgets.
The Trump administration also amplified U.S. security in the Arctic through a recent agreement with Denmark and Greenland, allowing for the modernization of Pituffik Space Base and the establishment of military areas at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, while restricting non-NATO countries from setting up military bases without consent. Additionally, Trump announced plans for two new military bases.
Reducing China’s Energy and Critical Mineral Influence
In January, Trump implemented a 25-percent tariff on nations doing business with Iran, aiming particularly at limiting China’s access to sanctioned Iranian oil. This move followed China’s loss of complete access to Venezuelan oil due to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, while Chinese officials stated their intent to safeguard their rights and interests in the matter.
The administration also sought alternatives to diminish China’s grip on critical minerals. In October 2025, Trump signed an accord with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, committing over $1 billion each for mining initiatives, supplemented by up to $5 billion in financing from the U.S. Export-Import Bank. This is in light of China’s dominance in rare-earth minerals and global refining.
Moreover, U.S. company Virtus Minerals acquired cobalt and copper mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, supported by the U.S. government, aiming to counteract China’s extensive control of Congolese minerals. Project Vault was also initiated in February, allocating $12 billion for the growth of American mineral companies.
Securing AI and Technology Supply Chains
Recently, the Trump administration intensified scrutiny of Chinese equipment in American data centers, citing increasing electricity demand from AI. An executive order declared a national emergency regarding foreign equipment in the bulk-power system, enabling the Energy Department to regulate transactions involving crucial technologies.
Chinese firms provide a substantial amount of components critical for data centers, with estimates indicating that China supplies nearly 30 percent of specific transformers and switchgear categories. In response to this reliance, the administration has advocated for increased semiconductor production domestically, resulting in significant investments from firms like Micron Technology.
Countering Chinese Influence at Strategic Ports
The administration forged agreements with Panama to reinforce the U.S. presence around the Panama Canal, allowing priority passage for American military vessels. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the importance of countering Chinese influence in the region.
There has also been support for the expansion of Greece’s Elefsina shipyard as a counterpoint to the Chinese-controlled Piraeus port, a move encouraged by U.S. investment efforts to modernize the shipyard and diminish Chinese dominance in that area.
Expanding U.S. Influence in the Western Hemisphere
Through the Shield of the Americas initiative, the Trump administration has increased diplomatic engagement with various countries in the Western Hemisphere. Trump convened leaders from several nations to discuss not only drug cartels but also regional security and economic cooperation.
This initiative received criticism from Chinese officials, who underscored their intent to maintain cooperation with Latin American nations despite external pressures.
Trade and Direct Diplomacy with Beijing
In the realm of trade, the administration noted a significant decline in the goods trade deficit with China during 2025. The U.S. Trade Representative reported that for the first time since 2000, China is no longer the U.S.’s largest trade deficit partner.
Amid concerns over security vulnerabilities, Trump announced plans to collaborate with states to address weaknesses in election systems, following intelligence reports that indicated breaches of voter records linked to China.
On a human rights front, Trump approached Xi Jinping about the detention of a church leader during an earlier visit to China, which led to the leader’s eventual release. While there were praises for this action, concerns remain over the ongoing detainment of other members of the church.
