The yearly threat analysis carried out by American intelligence services shows how Trump and his supporters perceive the world. "Annual threat assessment" is clear: Trump gives different priorities to interior and abroad policies than its predecessor Joe Biden.
The U.S. Intelligence has besides devoted much space to Greenland.
‘Never before’
According to U.S. intelligence services, the biggest threat to U.S. safety is presently drug cartels trading synthetic opioids specified as fentanyl. They made millions of Americans addicted.
The US authorities first list Mexican criminal groups, specified as the Sinaloa cartel, before threats from China, Russia, Iran or North Korea.
"Cartels are mostly liable for over 52,000 deaths in the US caused by synthetic opioids over the 12 months ending in October 2024 and facilitated the arrival of nearly 3 million illegal migrants in 2024, charging resources and threatening American communities," says the report. Cartels contributed to “regional instability” and threatened “the wellness and safety of millions of Americans”.
Trump responded to the threat by ordering a decree to classify certain drug cartels as abroad terrorist organizations. This has never happened before. To tackle the fentanyl crisis, Trump's administration is besides based on restrictive immigration policies and criminal duties against Mexico.
China, China and again China
About 1 3rd of the overall analysis concerns the measure. The word “China” appears in the study 103 times.
"China stands out as an entity that is likely to endanger US interests worldwide," say intelligence experts.
“Great renewal of the Chinese people” announced by China leader Xi Jinping, to be carried out by 2049 by the Communist Party, is observed in the US with the highest concern.
"The Pekin will proceed to increase its conventional military capabilities and tactical forces, intensify competition in space and proceed its industrially and technologically intensive economical strategy to compete with the economical power and global leadership of the US," US safety experts predict.
The expansion of China's armed forces gives the U.S. intelligence services anxieties, and the mediate State represents "the most comprehensive and strongest military threat to US national security".
Recognition for Putin
In an analysis of the dangers of American services, 1 country is peculiarly beneficial — Russia. Unlike China, the Russian Federation is not perceived to be besides critical.
Contributor/Getty Images / Getty ImagesRussian president Vladimir Putin (illustration picture)
Instead, the US services pay attention to Russia's resilience to the economical challenges caused by the invasion of Ukraine.
“he is willing to pay a very advanced price for a time triumph he sees as critical of Russia’s strategical rivalry with the United States, the past of the planet and its individual heritage,” writes an American interview about the Russian dictator.
However, the US intelligence services advocate a swift end to the conflict.
"The continuation of the war brings a strategical hazard to the US: an unintended escalation to large-scale war, the possible usage of atomic weapons, expanding uncertainty among NATO allies, especially in Central, east and North Europe, and a stronger presence of China and North Korea," says the analysis.
Reading between the lines: Putin can do whatever he wants, unless war has negative consequences for the US. The White home doesn't care what happens to Ukraine.
A fresh axis of evil can origin serious problems for the US
Increasing cooperation between US opponents is simply a greater origin for concern in Washington. The fresh axis, consisting of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, is said to mean “new challenges to global power and power of the United States,” including an increased probability that “the tensions or conflicts between the US and 1 of these opponents will draw others. ”
The study in respective locations refers to the Arctic and Greenland. According to intelligence analysts, China is seeking direct access to the vast natural resources of the region. Beijing allegedly considers the island a ‘important strategical base’ for the future. The same applies to Russia. Moscow is besides peculiarly curious in Greenland, as it involves strategically crucial maritime routes between the Arctic and the Atlantic. The American military base on the island is according to American intelligence thorn in Putin's side.
As far as another opponents are concerned, the US services believe that the threat from smaller players is alternatively small. government in Iran is now primarily curious in maintaining his own power. increasing discontent among the population, low economical growth and advanced inflation put Tehran under expanding pressure.
There is inactive North Korea, which according to the American intelligence services is dependent on its allies, China and Russia, and without them it is not a major threat.
Islamic terrorists and climate change? Irrelevant
Radical Islamists were mentioned in the study only on the margins. The muslim State (ISIS) suffered major defeats in the mediate East. According to the U.S. intelligence services, the most dangerous is the ISIS branch in South Asia. Al-Qaeda poses a real threat only at regional level.
For the first time in a decade, the study does not give a informing about climate change. The Trump 2.0 administration clearly has different priorities.
