Economic development, military strength and diplomatic influence are not the only characteristics that measure state power. Others matter too and one of them is the capacity to achieve internal and external security objectives. The values, aims, policies and principles by which a state strives to fulfil its goals are encapsulated in the National Security Strategies. These are relevant documents because they promote directions, guidelines and strategies. National security objectives cannot be

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... ays reached individually but through inter-state cooperation. This article investigates the US National Security Strategy throughout the 2016-2020 Trump administration. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the principles, values and goals of the administration's aims. It outlines how the cooperation between the US and Mexico enhanced the border securitization and controlled the illegal migrant flows. The article uses document analysis and process tracing to explain the motivations behind the US-Mexico security measures and their impact on reducing the flow of migrants. The main findings show that states can reach easily their goals if they cooperate; the US-Mexico partnership is an appropriate example in that direction