US NATIONAL MILITARY PRIORITIES DURING THE PRESIDENCIES OF J.BIDEN AND D.TRUMP: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

The article examines the United States’ state priorities in the military and defense sphere during the presidencies of Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The subject of the study is a comparative analysis of the two U.S. administrations’ strategic approaches to national security and defense. The methodology is based on comparing the content of key strategic documents, budgetary priorities, and practical actions of both presidents, which allows for identifying common features and differences in their defense policies. The research finds that both administrations refocused U.S. defense strategy on great power competition (primarily regarding China and Russia) and on accelerating military modernization. At the same time, the Trump administration was guided by the «America First» doctrine, implying a relatively unilateral approach, a prioritization of homeland protection (strengthening border control and immigration policy), and demands for allies to increase their burden-sharing in collective defense. In contrast, the Biden administration declares a commitment to alliance obligations and international cooperation, placing special emphasis on rallying allies around shared democratic values against authoritarianism and tackling global challenges like climate change. The study determined that under Biden, U.S. defense strategy shifted back toward a traditional internationalist approach – restoring leadership in NATO and other alliances, expanding partnerships (e.g., AUKUS), and returning to arms control agreements (such as extending New START). Trump, by comparison, focused on rapidly building military strength and deterring adversaries through «peace through strength,» while also avoiding new long-term military entanglements. The practical significance of this work is that its results improve the ability to forecast U.S. defense policy directions under different administrations, which is important for America’s allies and partners. The article concludes that the core priorities (stepping up competition with peer rivals, investing in cutting-edge defense technologies, etc.) are largely shared by both presidents, but the ideological rationale and methods of implementing these priorities diverge. Further research could assess the long-term implications of shifts in U.S. defense policy for international security and for countries like Ukraine.