Secretary of Defense General James Mattis said the document represents a “clear-eyed appraisal” of America’s spot in the world, and that “required tough choices — and we made them based upon a fundamental precept: namely, that America can afford survival.”
The new National Defense Strategy released Friday emphasizes a refocused strategic posture for the United States, specifically a return to more traditional state vs. state power competition along the lines of “good fences make good neighbors” in the increasingly competitive and multi-polar international system. In other words, the new NDS prioritizes competitive (if latent) advantage against potential state threats.
Indeed, in a deterrent-focused departure from what has been a military prioritization of counterterrorism, the 11-page unclassified summary, reads: “[T]he central challenge to U.S. prosperity and security is the reemergence of long-term strategic competition.”
Defense News reports Secretary of Defense General James Mattis said the document represents a “clear-eyed appraisal” of America’s spot in the world, and that “ required tough choices — and we made them based upon a fundamental precept: namely, that America can afford survival.”
Elbridge Colby, deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development, is quoted as saying the strategy shift stems from the perceived “central challenge facing the department of defense and the joint force [as being] the erosion of U.S. military advantage vis a vis China and Russia.”
In line with the National Security Strategy released in December, the shift in military strategy dynamics reflects growing concern over a rise in regional influence from Russia and China affecting U.S. interests while America’s longer-term counterterrorism efforts in the Middle East move closer toward nation-building and “terrorism control.”
The three key theaters of the NDS–the “Indo-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East–reflect the shifting dynamics.
There are also the cyber threats presented by Russia and China from hack attacks to increased flexing of might such as witnessed in Vladimir Putin’s foray into Crimea as well as with his military alliance (outpost)-building with Syria. All the while lesser power North Korea runs rhetorically amok in the backdrop in addition to ratcheting up missile testing and alleged intentions with regional alliances of its own. Turkey, too, has taken offense on the establishment of the northern Kurdish army too close to its border for comfort, further muddying matters and suggesting ominous gridlock and conflicts of interest. The three key theaters of the NDS–the “Indo-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East–reflect the shifting dynamics.
Per Mattis, priorities will include strengthening allies and partners, increasing lethality and reforming business practices at the Pentagon. However, counterterrorism operations are not going anywhere soon despite being out of the limelight. Per Defense News, Colby stressed ““One of the things the strategy is trying to do is say is that we know we are going to be dealing with terrorism in one way or another for the long haul — so let’s figure out ways of doing it that are more cost effective, that are more tailored — that allow us to walk and chew gum at the same time.”
