National Defense Strategy

National Defense Strategy
Name	National Defense Strategy
Caption	Strategic posture and force planning
Jurisdiction	United States Department of Defense
Formed	2018
Preceding1	Quadrennial Defense Review
Preceding2	National Security Strategy (United States)
Headquarters	The Pentagon
Chief1 name	Secretary of Defense (United States)

National Defense Strategy The National Defense Strategy is a principal strategic document guiding United States Department of Defense planning, force development, and resource allocation. It translates broader directives from the National Security Strategy (United States) and legislative mandates such as the Goldwater–Nichols Act into prioritized missions, readiness goals, and capability requirements. Influenced by events like the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Global War on Terrorism, and shifts in People's Republic of China posture, the strategy balances deterrence, competition, and crisis response.

Overview

The document synthesizes inputs from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and combatant commands including U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. European Command. It maps to statutory reporting requirements under the National Defense Authorization Act and aligns with guidance from the White House and the Office of Management and Budget. The strategy frames priorities amid strategic competitors such as the People's Republic of China and Russian Federation, non-state actors exemplified by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and transnational challenges like climate change and cyber operations traced to actors including Fancy Bear and Lazarus Group.

Objectives and Strategic Principles

Primary objectives typically include defending the homeland, deterring aggression by state actors such as the People's Republic of China and Russian Federation, and disrupting terrorist networks like Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Strategic principles emphasize integrated deterrence coordinated with allies such as North Atlantic Treaty Organization members, partners across the Indo-Pacific like Japan and Australia, and regional frameworks including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Concepts like layered defense, forward presence, and resilience draw on lessons from the Korean War, Vietnam War, and operations in Afghanistan.

Threat Assessment and Risk Analysis

Threat analysis combines intelligence from the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, and Defense Intelligence Agency with open-source indicators tied to People's Liberation Army modernization, Russian military reform, and emerging capabilities from states like Iran and North Korea. Risk matrices evaluate conventional force projection, nuclear posture linked to New START, anti-access/area denial trends illustrated by A2/AD deployments, and non-kinetic risks such as cyber warfare incidents affecting Stuxnet-era precedents. Scenarios reference crises including the South China Sea disputes, the Crimean crisis, and supply chain disruptions reminiscent of COVID-19 pandemic effects.

Military Posture and Force Structure

Force design recommendations touch on joint force lethality, distributed operations, and modernization programs like the F-35 Lightning II, Columbia-class submarine, and Long Range Strike Bomber. Force structure debates involve active-duty levels, reserve components including the National Guard (United States), and basing patterns with hubs like Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and facilities in Guam and Diego Garcia. Logistics and sustainment leverage concepts from Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom, while nuclear deterrence strategies consider triad modernization and guidance from the Nuclear Posture Review.

Implementation and Policy Instruments

Implementation relies on programming and budgeting cycles administered via the Defense Budget, POM (Program Objective Memorandum) processes, and acquisition authorities including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and U.S. Army Futures Command. Policy instruments include security cooperation through military exercises like RIMPAC and Red Flag, foreign military sales governed by the Arms Export Control Act, and sanctions coordinated with the Department of Treasury under statutes such as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Congressional oversight from committees such as the Senate Armed Services Committee shapes execution.

International Cooperation and Alliances

Alliances and partnerships are central: NATO collective defense commitments, bilateral treaties with Republic of Korea, Japan–United States Security Treaty, and evolving security dialogues like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue among United States, Japan, Australia, and India. Cooperative frameworks include intelligence-sharing networks such as Five Eyes and multinational efforts like the Proliferation Security Initiative. Security assistance programs reference institutions like the World Bank for stabilization and the United Nations for peacekeeping mandates.

Evaluation, Adaptation, and Historical Development

The strategy evolves from predecessors including the Quadrennial Defense Review and reflects adaptations after conflicts such as the Iraq War and responses to crises like Hurricane Katrina where civil-military coordination was tested. Periodic reviews incorporate lessons from NATO intervention in Libya, counterinsurgency doctrine informed by FM 3-24, and technological shifts from innovators like SpaceX and firms involved in hypersonics and artificial intelligence research. Assessment mechanisms use wargames at institutions like the National War College and studies by think tanks such as the RAND Corporation and Center for Strategic and International Studies to inform revisions.

Category:United States defense policy