Statement by Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs and Senior Advisor Sean Parnell:
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has directed Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby to begin the development of the 2025 National Defense Strategy (NDS).
The NDS serves as the strategic roadmap for the Department of Defense. As such, it will provide clear direction for the Department to implement President Trump's America First and Peace Through Strength agenda. Consistent with the President's intent, the NDS will prioritize defense of the U.S. homeland, including America's skies and borders, and deterring China in the Indo-Pacific. At the same time, the NDS will prioritize increasing burden-sharing with allies and partners around the world, in the process strengthening those relationships and setting conditions for lasting peace.
The Under Secretary of Defense for Policy will lead development of the NDS in close coordination with the Joint Staff and other Department components. The Secretary's memorandum directing initiation of the NDS development process can be found here.