In a web-streamed event from the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington today, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis detailed the security environment that led to the drafting of this year's National Defense Strategy, again making the case that there is strength in numbers. At the hourlong event, Mattis focused the majority of his time discussing the strategy's second line of effort: “Partnerships.”
Below is an overview of the National Defense Strategy key facts and highlights from the event:
This is the first new National Defense Strategy in a decade, and it has two main goals:
1
To restore America's competitive edge by blocking global rivals Russia and China from challenging the U.S. and its allies; and
2
To keep those rivals from throwing the current international order out of balance. The strategy lays out three distinct lines of effort: Lethality, Partnerships and Reform.
Lethality: Long-term, strategic, Cold War-style competition has reemerged, and the U.S. is being challenged in the air, on the sea and land, in space and in cyberspace. So, how does the nation prepare for and prevent war? By modernizing the force, thinking ahead, being more flexible with its capabilities, and by having the best and brightest on the team.
Partnerships: As the old saying goes, there is strength in numbers. When nations pool resources and share responsibility, their burdens become lighter. It also gives the U.S. a better chance to advance its interests and maintain a balance of power that will keep enemies from thinking twice about aggression. The stability that comes from alliances and partnerships can also generate much-needed economic growth.
Reform: During the Cold War, U.S. military forces and technology were far superior to those of Russia and China. But those days are gone — the nation’s adversaries are catching up. The race to stay ahead of the curve is closer than before and harder to maintain, so the U.S. needs to modernize and streamline, getting the most from every taxpayer dollar. Up until now, DOD has been focused on being thorough (via lots of red tape) and minimizing risk (not taking chances on projects or tech if we're unsure what rewards they will reap). But that's not cutting it anymore.