Defend the United States homeland, deter China in the Indo-Pacific through force, not confrontation, increase burden-sharing with U.S. allies and partners, and enhance the U.S. defense industrial base .
These are, in order, the priorities of the new National Defense Strategy, released by the Pentagon . National defense is listed as the top priority, above the Indo-Pacific, defining the Western Hemisphere as a region "neglected" by previous policies. Russia is described as a "persistent but manageable threat." However, the document denies any tendency toward isolationism.
The National Defense Strategy (NDS), which outlines how the Department of Defense will implement the National Security Strategy guidelines, is traditionally considered a key Pentagon document. However, in a surprising move, the Department chose to release it with unusual discretion: the document, writes the specialized website Breaking Defense, was emailed without warning, almost 7 p.m. (local time) on Friday, when the entire East Coast was focused on a major approaching snowstorm.
"As President Trump has stated, the U.S. military's top priority is defending the homeland. The Department will therefore prioritize this objective, including defending American interests throughout the Western Hemisphere," the NDS reads.
This means ensuring the security of the national territory also through border security, the fight against drug trafficking and the protection of airspace , as indicated in the key points of the document.
(Unioneonline)
