A proposal circulating in Washington has raised eyebrows with the idea of forming a new global power grouping that would unite the United States with China, Russia, India, and Japan, a dramatic shift from traditional alliances like the G7.
What Happened
The concept, informally referred to as a “Core 5,” surfaced as President Donald Trump struggles to make headway in brokering an end to the Russia–Ukraine war, according to reporting by POLITICO.
The suggestion, which some policy analysts say reflects Trump’s characteristic preference for dealmaking with rival nations, would bring together countries that have historically been strategic competitors.
POLITICO noted that Trump has repeatedly sought direct channels with geopolitical adversaries, including allowing Nvidia to export its H200 AI chips to China and dispatching Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
A former Trump administration official, speaking anonymously, told POLITICO that while the “Core 5” label was not explicitly discussed in prior years, conversations frequently focused on the belief that existing international bodies, including the G7 and the U.N. Security Council, no longer matched current global power dynamics.
The proposal reportedly appeared in an unpublished draft of the National Security Strategy circulated inside government.
The White House, however, has rejected that claim outright.
Spokesperson Anna Kelly said there is no alternate or classified version beyond the 33-page document released publicly.
Why It Matters
Foreign policy specialists say the idea fits Trump’s worldview.
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Torrey Taussig, who worked on European affairs under President Joe Biden, said the grouping reflects Trump’s tendency to view global politics through the lens of strong leaders and regional spheres of influence.
She noted that Europe’s absence from the hypothetical C5 would likely reinforce fears that Washington now sees Moscow as the dominant force in the region.
Michael Sobolik, a former adviser to Senator Ted Cruz, said the concept departs sharply from Trump’s first-term posture on China, which framed Beijing as a strategic challenger.
The Trump administration has already signaled a willingness to rethink US alignment.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently referenced a “G2” meeting between Trump and China’s Xi Jinping, prompting concern in Congress.
The National Security Strategy released last week also emphasized a pivot away from Europe, which it described as facing “civilizational erasure” and toward the Western Hemisphere.
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the top Democrat on the House China Committee, criticized Hegseth’s comments in a letter, calling the “G2” framing “deeply troubling.”
The broader shift comes after the U.S. removed language labeling Russia as a “direct threat” in its updated security strategy.
The administration now frames its foreign policy as “flexible realism,” driven by what it calls an “America First” approach.
Trump has frequently spoken positively about Putin, a posture that has unsettled European governments who rely on U.S. support as the war in Ukraine grinds on.
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