The Trump administration’s new national security strategy has got lousy reviews in Europe. Nonetheless, it is a genuinely interesting document. It attempts to do something very ambitious — which is to redefine national security in civilisational terms.

Conventional takes on national security centre on military and economic imperatives. The new NSS trudges dutifully through these issues. But one senses that the author’s heart is not in it. A passage on the critical issue of Taiwan asserts flatly: “Deterring a conflict over Taiwan?.?.?.?is a priority. We will also maintain our longstanding declaratory policy on Taiwan.” That is the very definition of a holding statement.

The document becomes much more energetic and innovative when it turns to civilisational issues. There is clearly a strong racial element to the administration’s definition of civilisation — even if it is not quite spelled out. The first policy priority listed is an end to “mass migration”. The NSS insists: “We must protect our country from invasion?.?.?.?from unchecked migration.”