President's Trump's 2017 National Security Strategy Had A Section Dedicated To Pandemics. So What Happened?

U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Milton Hamilton

Thomas Spoehr, RCD: Even Expected Pandemics Are Problematic. Still, We Can Learn From Them.

The Trump administration’s 2017 National Security Strategy differed markedly from that of its predecessor. The greatest difference was a shift in focus, now concentrated more heavily on competing with China and Russia.

Perhaps the most pronounced change came in the view of China. The Obama administration’s final 2015 National Security Strategy had set the goal of a “rise of a stable, peaceful, and prosperous China.” That goal was deep-sixed in the new administration’s strategy.

Another key difference: the new strategy articulated a more direct link between America’s security and its economic prosperity.

Reviews of the strategy focused on these novelties and were largely favorable. Little noticed was the prominence given in the strategy to the threat from pandemics.

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WNU Editor: Unlike President Obama's final 2015 National Security Strategy that made little mention of pandemics, President's Trump's 2017 National Security Strategy dedicated an entire section to it (on page 9). Quoting the above article ....


.... dealing with biothreats and pandemics, putting them on the same structural level as strengthening border control and immigration policy.

....  It called for the ability to “detect and contain biothreats at their source,” to “support biomedical innovation,” and to “improve emergency response.” To contain threats early, the strategy describes the need to “work with other countries to detect and mitigate outbreaks early.” Unfortunately, because of China's intransigence, this part of the strategy was impossible to carry out.

Yup. Washington made the mistake that China would cooperate and be open at the beginning of this pandemic. Unfortunately, this mistake is costing everyone dearly right now.

Hat tip John for this article.