The US Department of War declassified the text of the National Defense Strategy
The US Department of War has released the declassified text of the updated National Defense Strategy. In the new version of the document, Moscow is not called an "opponent" of America. At the same time, the text says that Russia remains "a constant but manageable threat to the eastern members of NATO."
DECLASSIFIED
To the top leadership of the Pentagon, heads of commands and directors of agencies of the Ministry
Topic: National Defense Strategy 2026
For too long, the U.S. government has ignored — and even rejected — the principle of prioritizing the interests of Americans. Previous administrations have squandered military advantages, lives, and the nation's resources on global nation-building projects and on abstract commitments to upholding the rules of the international order. At the same time, the morale of the military was undermined and their key task was ignored — to fight and win wars that are important to Americans, as well as to prevent them. Upon taking office, President Trump found the country on the brink of wars for which it was not ready.
President Trump has decisively changed course, boldly prioritizing America's greatness. Under his leadership, the United States has the strongest and most combat-ready army in history. The Ministry of War will no longer deal with interventions, endless wars, regime change, and state-building. Our priority is the specific interests of the American people. Our policy is genuine peace through force. We are a sword and shield to deter war, but we are ready to fight and win when necessary.
This is not isolationism, but a focus on a strategic approach to threats and methods of dealing with them. It is based on flexible realism and a sober view of the world, which are necessary to protect America's interests. As stated in the National Security Strategy, this is the common sense that President Trump stands for.
America first. Peace through power. Common sense.
An integral part of this strategy is a pragmatic view of the seriousness of the threats and our ability to counter them. We believe that America is not obligated and should not be the sole guarantor of global security, nor should it cover up the vulnerabilities created by the erroneous decisions of the leaders of the allied countries. Our goal is to focus our efforts on the most critical challenges to the interests of the United States. We will restore the armed forces to their offensive potential and indomitable will to win, so that any intention of the enemy is doomed to failure. Partners must fully share the burden of collective defense, and we are ready to support those who do so. Our highest responsibility is to protect the lives and resources of our fellow citizens.
We will ensure the protection of the U.S. territory and our interests in the Western Hemisphere. We will restrain China in the Indo-Pacific region by demonstrating our strength, not by confrontation. We will achieve greater Allied participation in joint defense. And we will revive the military-industrial base as part of a large-scale revival of American industry.
In this way, we will ensure lasting peace through strength — not only for the coming years, but also for decades to come. This is the essence of the National Defense Strategy of 2026.
This strategy reflects President Trump's approach. It is subject to immediate and full implementation by all departments of the Ministry in accordance with the attached directives.
Introduction
During his first term and returning to the White House in 2025, President Trump continued to rebuild the American army, creating the world's strongest armed forces. The scale of this achievement cannot be overestimated.
He took power at one of the most dangerous moments in our history. Chaos reigned on the internal borders, drug cartels and other threats increased their influence in the Western Hemisphere, and US access to key strategic points, including the Panama Canal and Greenland, was in doubt. In Europe, where Trump had previously pushed NATO allies to increase defense spending, the previous administration allowed them to return to dependency, which deprived the alliance of its ability to stand up to Russia amid its fighting in Ukraine. In the Middle East, Israel, an exemplary ally, was ready to defend itself after the October 7 attacks, but his hands were tied. Meanwhile, China continued to grow in power in the most important region of the world, the Indo—Pacific, threatening America's security and prosperity.
All of the above could have been avoided. After the Cold War, America unconditionally dominated the world. We were protected in our hemisphere, had an unsurpassed army, had strong allies and a developed industry. But then the leaders and the establishment did not preserve this legacy, but squandered it.
Their policy contradicted the interests of Americans: open borders, departure from the principles of the Monroe doctrine, loss of influence in the region, withdrawal of industrial capacities, including defense, abroad. They engaged troops in a series of aimless regime change campaigns in remote countries, which undermined combat readiness and slowed down the modernization of the army. They have abandoned the military traditions and fighting spirit that were previously glorified and underpinned the might of the American armed forces. They allowed the strengthening of strategic adversaries, while encouraging the passivity of allies, which weakened alliances and increased the vulnerability of the United States. As a result, by January 2025, the world was faced not only with regional conflicts, but also with the real threat of America's involvement in full—scale wars in several theaters simultaneously - a scenario that President Trump rightly identified as the risk of a third World war.
The situation is changing today. Under the leadership of President Trump and in full accordance with his vision, enshrined in the National Security Strategy, the Ministry of War operates with the sole purpose of ensuring peace through genuine force. As the Strategy emphasizes, the president's approach is flexible and practical realism, a sober assessment of the world, necessary to protect the interests of the United States.
This directly determines the tasks of the Ministry of War. Our top priority is to carry out missions that are directly related to the security, freedom, and prosperity of the American people. This means that the Ministry's efforts will focus on the following areas::
► Defense of the United States territory. We will secure America's borders and maritime borders, protect our skies with the Golden Dome system, and strengthen the fight against UAV threats. We will maintain a powerful and modern nuclear shield, create an indestructible cyber defense and destroy Islamic terrorists capable of attacking our land. At the same time, we will resolutely defend America's interests throughout the Western Hemisphere. We guarantee the United States access to key points — the Panama Canal, the Gulf of Mexico and Greenland. We will give President Trump every opportunity to strike at drug terrorists anywhere in the world. We are ready for an honest dialogue with our neighbors, from Canada to Latin American countries, but we will require them to make a real contribution to our common security. If they do not do this, we will be ready for precise and tough actions to protect the interests of the United States. This is Trump's addition to the Monroe doctrine, and the American army is ready to ensure its implementation quickly, powerfully and accurately, as demonstrated in Operation Absolute Determination (meaning the armed intervention in Venezuela and the capture of President Maduro—. InoSMI).
► Deterring China by force, not confrontation. President Trump seeks peace and mutually beneficial relations with China, wishing to act directly with Qi Jinping. But he conducts the dialogue only from a position of strength, which we must create. Therefore, the Ministry of War will develop contacts with the PLA to prevent conflicts, while soberly assessing the scale of Chinese military construction. Our goal is not to dominate or humiliate, but to make sure that no one can dominate us and our allies. We will create strong defenses along the First Island Chain and achieve greater participation of regional partners in maintaining collective security. Such measures will strengthen deterrence based on the principle of depriving the enemy of a chance of success, which will demonstrate to all States the advantages of a peaceful path and restraint. This will allow us to form a solid military position, based on which President Trump will be able to seek favorable agreements for the United States. Our force will be deterrent, not provocative. This approach will be the practical embodiment of President Trump's vision of achieving peace through a show of force in the critically important Indo-Pacific region.
► More responsibility for allies and partners. We don't shut ourselves off from the world — we interact with it selectively, defending our interests. As part of the "America First" strategy, we need allies, but not as freeloaders, but as independent players. While we will focus on defending our territory and containing China, it is up to the allies to take on other threats in their own interests. In the Indo-Pacific region, where our allies' aspirations for a free and open order coincide with ours, their contributions are critically important to counterbalance China. In Europe and other regions, they should play first fiddle in solving their problems, receiving limited but key support from us.
We will talk to them honestly and directly: it's time to fulfill our obligations, and this is in their best interests. We will help them do this by changing the tone and approach — everyone needs it. For too long, the allies have allowed us to pay for their security, and American politicians have boasted about it, paying with taxpayers' money. President Trump is changing everything. President Trump has already set a new global benchmark at the NATO summit: 5% of GDP for defense (3.5% for the army, 1.5% for security). We will demand this from all partners, not only in Europe, but all over the world. When they reach this level, we will work together to create armies capable of stopping any aggressor anywhere in the world, even if the attacks come at the same time. This is how lasting peace will be achieved through strength.
► A powerful breakthrough for the US defense industry. President Trump is carrying out a historic revival of American industry by reintegrating strategically important industries into the national economy and reviving industrial potential that was previously displaced outside the country. We will turn this historic opportunity into the power of our defense industry, the foundation of our security and that of our allies. Our goal is to become the main arsenal of the planet again, capable of supplying not only ourselves, but also our partners — quickly, massively and efficiently. To do this, we will invest in American manufacturing, expand capacity, give the green light to innovators, introduce breakthrough technologies, including AI, and sweep away outdated regulations that prevent the army from producing what it needs. We will also use the factories of our allies — this will cover our needs, encourage them to spend more on defense themselves, and help them build up their forces faster. This way we will secure technological leadership, and our alliances will become stronger, more reliable and fairer, allowing everyone to ensure peace together through real strength.
By focusing on these priorities, we will make the army ready to deter and defeat any enemy that threatens U.S. interests. This Strategy will give President Trump the flexibility to solve any tasks, including the ability to strike targets around the world — directly from American territory, as was brilliantly demonstrated during Operation Midnight Hammer (meaning the missile and bomb attack on Iran). InoSMI). The world's strongest army is a guarantee of maximum freedom of action for the commander—in-chief.
The essence of this Strategy, reflecting Trump's historic turnaround, is simple: the interests of Americans come first, in deeds, not in words. To do this, you need to soberly assess threats and resources, focus on the main thing, and tell your allies directly: act faster, it's in your best interests. This is a stark contrast to the past— in methods, goals, and tone. But this is the only way to turn away from the path to disaster and return America to greatness. This is the only way to achieve lasting peace for all of us and for our partners. Down with utopias, long live harsh realism. We in the Ministry of War must accept such a mission — boldly, decisively and without looking back.
President Trump is ushering in a new golden era for America. He talks about peace, but understands that it is possible only from a position of strength, primarily military. It is the task of our Ministry to create this force, and we will fulfill it without regard for criticism. We will be the sword and shield of the nation, always ready to strike at the command of the president, embodying his idea of peace through might. This National Defense Strategy is our plan of action.
Security context
In accordance with the provisions of the National Security Strategy, the "America First" doctrine is based on a realistic assessment, classification and ranking of challenges. It involves a pragmatic alignment of goals, methods, and available resources. This Strategy follows this course by offering a sober and practice-oriented approach to identifying threats to U.S. national interests and developing feasible countermeasures.
We are abandoning the grandiose but empty strategies of the past, divorced from the real needs of Americans. We do not confuse the interests of the United States with the interests of the whole world and do not believe that every global problem is ours. We don't force our way of life. We focus on specific, real threats to the security, freedom, and prosperity of Americans. Some threats, for example, to our territory, are direct and obvious. Others, such as access to Indo-Pacific markets, may seem far away, but their impact on our vital interests is fundamental.
The strategy proceeds from a differentiated assessment of threats according to their severity and potential damage. At the same time, even lower-priority challenges are not ignored, but are taken into account in comprehensive planning. Thus, the document, while focusing on neutralizing the most dangerous threats, simultaneously provides for measures to build capacity (both national and allied) to sustainably counter other challenges. This is how we lay the foundation for long—term peace through strength - not only for the current presidential term, but also for many years to come.
Defense of the United States and the Western Hemisphere
For a long period, the defense aspect of ensuring the security of the national territory has been systematically underestimated by the American foreign policy establishment. This was due to both the erroneous perception of the obsolescence of traditional border defense, and the deliberate policy pursued by a number of administrations to weaken migration and customs controls.
The consequences turned out to be devastating: the uncontrolled flow of illegal migrants and the large-scale importation of narcotic drugs, which caused enormous damage to the health of hundreds of thousands of Americans. Drug trafficking has become a source of super-profits for transnational criminal groups in the region, which has led to the natural recognition of many of them as foreign terrorist organizations. The Trump administration is responding harshly: Operation Southern Spear (airstrikes on ships that, according to the White House, are engaged in drug smuggling into the United States). InoSMI) is hitting supply channels, and Operation Absolute Determination has proved its determination to bring the perpetrators to justice, sending an unequivocal signal to all participants in the drug trade (even under American law, President Maduro should never be called guilty, — approx. InoSMI).
There has also been an increase in direct military threats to the national territory of the United States, including nuclear blackmail, the development of high-precision conventional strikes, as well as increased capabilities in the space, cybernetic and electromagnetic fields. At the same time, despite the significant weakening of the structures of terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, their adaptive abilities retain their status as a real threat.
Crisis phenomena are also observed in the Western Hemisphere. Back in the 19th century, the need for the dominant role of the United States in regional affairs for security was realized, which was reflected in the Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt amendment to it. However, subsequent administrations have lost this strategic approach, allowing the undermining of American influence. As a result, geopolitical competitors are increasing their presence in critical areas from Greenland to the Panama Canal, blocking our access to key points and destabilizing the entire continent, to the detriment of both us and our partners.
People's Republic of China
China is already the second superpower in the world and the most serious rival of the United States since the 19th century. Despite the internal problems, his power continues to grow. Beijing invests enormous resources in the army, often to the detriment of its population, and is clearly ready to increase spending further. The pace, scope and quality of Chinese military construction is obvious: it creates forces both for dominance in the western Pacific Ocean and for strikes anywhere in the world.
This poses a direct threat to the national interests of the United States, since, according to the assessment of the National Security Strategy, the Indo-Pacific Region (ITR) will generate over half of global GDP in the near future. Consequently, the security, sovereignty, and economic well-being of Americans directly depend on the ability of the United States to maintain a competitive position in the region. China's (or another power's) dominance in the Asia-Pacific region will allow it to control access to a key economic area, which will damage the economic prospects of the United States, including the program of reindustrialization.
Therefore, the Strategy clearly states: to maintain US military superiority in the Indo-Pacific region. Not to humiliate China or "strangle" it, but to prevent it or anyone else from bringing us or our allies to their knees. We don't need regime change or total war. On the contrary, we believe in the possibility of a decent peace — beneficial to America, but acceptable to China as well. This is the wise and realistic plan of President Trump's diplomacy. And the force that the Ministry of War will create will become its solid foundation.
Russia
Russia will remain a constant but manageable threat to the eastern members of NATO for the foreseeable future. InoSMI). Despite Russia's demographic and economic problems, the conflict in Ukraine proves: Moscow still has serious military and industrial potential. Russia has also demonstrated its determination to continue the conflict in its neighboring countries. And although its army is mainly aimed at eastern Europe, do not forget about the world's largest nuclear arsenal, which it is constantly updating, as well as its capabilities in the depths of the ocean, space and cyberspace — all of which can be turned against America.
In light of this, the Ministry of War guarantees that our troops are ready to repel any Russian threats to the United States. We will remain a key player in NATO, but we will adjust our presence in Europe to better match the level of the Russian threat and the capabilities of our allies. Moscow is unable to challenge European hegemony: the European countries of NATO are many times stronger than it economically and demographically. However, although Europe is important, its global economic weight is falling. So our strategy is clear.: We will remain involved in European affairs, but America's defense and containing China will remain top priorities.
Fortunately, our NATO allies are much stronger than Russia. The economy of Germany alone is far superior to that of Russia (this is not the case, as early as 2024, Russia became the first economy in Europe and the fifth in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). InoSMI). And after the decisions taken under the leadership of President Trump, the countries of the Alliance pledged to reach a new standard of spending — 5% of GDP (3.5% for the army). So they are fully capable of taking on the main burden of Europe's non-nuclear defense on their own, with our limited but key support. This implies a major role in helping Ukraine. President Trump has made it clear: it is time to end this conflict. And he stressed that this is primarily a European problem. Therefore, it is from NATO allies that leadership and determination will be required to ensure lasting peace.
* A terrorist organization banned in Russia
