Trump
TrumpReuters

US President Donald Trump announced that his administration has adapted a new counterterrorism strategy to combat and defend the US against terrorism from around the world.

Trump’s National Strategy for Counterterrorism focuses on pursuing terrorists to their source; isolating terrorists from their sources of support; modernizing and integrating the United States’ counterterrorism tools; protecting American infrastructure and enhancing resilience; countering terrorist radicalization and recruitment; and strengthening the counterterrorism abilities of the US international partners.

The new strategy builds on lessons learned from past counterterrorism efforts and offers a new path toward strengthening the security of Americans. It focuses the United States on countering all terrorists with the intent and ability to harm the US.

The strategy emphasizes the use of all of America’s tools to prevent and counter terrorism, strengthening military approaches while delivering a new emphasis on non-military capabilities.

It places America first, emphasizing strong borders, strengthening security at points of entry, protecting critical infrastructure, and facilitating preparedness. However, it notes, "America First does not mean America alone. The new strategy commits us to expand our partnerships at home and abroad to encourage partners’ assistance in counterterrorism activities.This includes working with our North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies and partners."

"As your President, I am committed to protecting the United States and its interests abroad from the threat of terrorism. The National Strategy for Counterterrorism that I approved today will help protect our great Nation, enhance our national security, and guide our continued effort to defeat terrorists and terrorist organizations that threaten the United States," Trump said in a speech Thursday.

"Under my leadership, the United States has accelerated efforts to defeat terrorists. Working with coalition partners, we have decimated ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Likewise, I ended United States participation in the horrible Iran deal, which had provided a windfall for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxies, funding Iran’s malign activities throughout the world. Importantly, I have also secured historic increases in defense funding to rebuild our Nation’s military."

"The National Strategy for Counterterrorism is an important next step. It outlines the approach of the United States to countering the increasingly complex and evolving terrorist threats and represents the Nation’s first fully articulated counterterrorism strategy since 2011. It provides the strategic guidance needed to protect the United States against all terrorist threats, while simultaneously fostering the agility to anticipate, prevent, and respond to new threats.

"Guided by the National Strategy for Counterterrorism, we will use all instruments of American power to protect our great Nation, and we will defeat our enemies with the full force of American might."