US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering the creation of a new elite grouping of global powers, informally described as the “C5” or “Core Five,” which would bring together the United States, China, Russia, India and Japan. The proposed forum would mark a sharp departure from existing arrangements such as the G7, long dominated by European democracies and defined by shared political values and wealth.
There has been no formal confirmation from the White House. However, Politico reported that the concept surfaced in a longer, unpublished version of the National Security Strategy released last week. While Politico said it could not independently verify the existence of this expanded document, the idea was earlier reported by Defence One.
According to the report, the proposed grouping would focus on major powers defined by population size, military capacity and geopolitical reach, rather than democratic credentials. In contrast to the G7, the C5 would not be constrained by ideological alignment, instead emphasising strategic bargaining among states with global influence.
The reported draft envisions regular summit-level meetings on specific geopolitical challenges. The first topic under discussion is said to be security in the Middle East, particularly efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia — an area where Washington has sought breakthrough agreements.
White House officials have publicly rejected the claims. Press secretary Hannah Kelly stated that there is “no alternative, private, or secret version” of the National Security Strategy beyond the official 33-page document already released.
Despite the denial, foreign-policy experts say the idea aligns closely with Trump’s worldview. Torrey Taussig, who served as director for European affairs on the US National Security Council during the Biden administration, told Politico that the proposal reflects a non-ideological approach to global politics, one that favours engagement with strong states and recognises spheres of influence rather than alliance structures.
Taussig noted that Europe’s absence from the hypothetical C5 would likely alarm European capitals, reinforcing perceptions that a Trump-led White House views Russia as a central power in Europe’s security landscape.
Others point out that the idea would also represent a shift from Trump’s earlier posture towards China. Michael Sobolik, who advised Republican Senator Ted Cruz during Trump’s first term, said the administration previously framed relations with Beijing strictly through the lens of great-power competition. Bringing China into a cooperative core group, he argued, would be a significant departure from that approach.
The report has surfaced amid broader debates in Washington about how far a second Trump administration might alter the post-war international order. Critics warn that elevating Russia alongside other major powers while sidelining traditional allies could weaken Western cohesion, strain NATO, and legitimise authoritarian leadership styles. Supporters, however, see it as an attempt to adapt diplomacy to a more fragmented, multipolar world driven by power realities rather than institutional traditions.