Islamabad (nytoday) — The United States Department of Defense has unveiled its 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS), marking a significant shift in America’s strategic priorities. In the newly released document, China is no longer described as the principal security threat to the United States. Instead, safeguarding the American homeland and defending strategic interests across the Western Hemisphere are now identified as the Pentagon’s foremost objectives.
According to the strategy, previous defence policies failed to adequately protect core U.S. interests, including access to vital geographic chokepoints such as the Panama Canal and Greenland. Pentagon officials argue that past approaches weakened national security and overextended U.S. military commitments abroad.
Under the new framework, the U.S. military will prioritise defending the homeland and ensuring regional stability in the Americas. This includes strengthening border security, enhancing missile and cyber defences, and securing key terrain throughout the Western Hemisphere. The strategy emphasises that the United States must first safeguard its own territory before engaging in distant conflicts.
While China’s growing military and economic power is still recognized, the 2026 NDS treats Beijing as a strategic competitor rather than an existential threat. The document stresses the importance of deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region — through a posture of “strength, not confrontation” — and maintaining a balance of power that prevents dominance over the United States or its allies.
The new strategy also calls for increased “burden-sharing” with allied nations. The Pentagon signals a more limited role for U.S. forces in Europe and Asia, urging partners to take greater responsibility for their own defence, particularly against threats like Russia and North Korea. This approach is likely to prompt adjustments in defence planning among traditional allies.
Although Russia, Iran, and North Korea remain identified as potential security challenges, they do not occupy the top slot in the Pentagon’s threat hierarchy. Instead, the defence blueprint highlights a more regional focus, concentrating resources and strategic attention on areas immediately surrounding the U.S. homeland.
The release of this strategy follows delays attributed to internal policy debates, especially over China’s role in U.S. security planning. After extensive review and revisions, the document was formally approved and published this month, reflecting evolving priorities under the current administration.