US Unveils National Defence Strategy 2026 with "America First" Focus
The United States Department of War has officially released its National Defence Strategy 2026, outlining a clear prioritization of defending the US Homeland and safeguarding American interests across the Western Hemisphere. The strategy is firmly aligned with the guiding principles of "America First. Peace Through Strength. Common Sense." This comprehensive document marks a significant shift in global defense posturing, with particular emphasis on perceived strategic competitors.
Notable Absence of India as a Defense Partner
A striking feature of the 2026 strategy is its complete omission of any mention of India. This represents a considerable departure from previous US defense strategies, including those from 2017 and 2022, which explicitly recognized India as a "Major Defense Partner." The document's silence on India is being viewed by analysts as a recalibration of strategic priorities, potentially redirecting focus and resources elsewhere.
Primary Focus on China, Russia, and Iran
The strategy document identifies China, Russia, and Iran as the primary nations of concern. The text mentions "China" 22 times, "Russia" 13 times, "Iran" 11 times, and "Korea" 13 times, underscoring their centrality to the new American defense calculus. The approach towards each nation is delineated with specific tactical and diplomatic nuances.
Detailed Strategy for Countering China in the Indo-Pacific
Regarding China, the US vows to pursue deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region through the doctrine of "strength, not confrontation." The objective is to establish a formidable position of military strength, enabling negotiations from a vantage point of power. The document states that President Donald Trump seeks stable peace, fair trade, and respectful relations with China, highlighting a willingness to engage directly with President Xi Jinping to achieve these goals.
The strategy involves erecting a "strong denial defense" along the First Island Chain (FIC) and pursuing a "decent peace" rather than advocating for regime change in Beijing. In line with negotiating from strength, the Department of War plans to expand military-to-military communications with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), focusing on strategic stability, deconfliction, and de-escalation.
Importantly, the department clarifies that the US goal "is not to dominate China; nor is it to strangle or humiliate them." Instead, the aim is to prevent any nation, including China, from dominating the US or its allies, thereby establishing military conditions conducive to a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific that ensures a decent peace for all. The strategy emphasizes being strong but not unnecessarily confrontational and expects allied support to be driven by their own national interests, not as a favor to the United States.
Conditional Support Framework for European Allies
The document lays out a conditional framework for allied cooperation, particularly in Europe. It states that in theaters like Europe, allies are expected to take the lead against threats that are more severe for them than for the US, with the United States providing critical but more limited support. This reflects a strategy of burden-sharing based on direct threat perception.
Approach Towards Iran and Empowerment of Regional Partners
The US Department of War describes Iran's regime as "weaker and more vulnerable than it has been in decades," with its 'Axis of Resistance' similarly devastated. The 2026 strategy focuses on empowering regional allies and partners to assume primary responsibility for deterring and defending against Iran and its proxies.
This includes strongly backing Israel's efforts to defend itself, deepening cooperation with Arabian Gulf partners, and enabling further integration between Israel and Gulf partners, building on the Abraham Accords. Israel is hailed as a "model ally," with the US committed to further empowering it. The strategy notes that Gulf partners are increasingly willing and able to defend themselves against Iran, including through the acquisition of US military systems.
Counter-Terrorism Priorities in Africa
In Africa, the Department's priority is to prevent Islamic terrorists from using regional safe havens to strike the US Homeland. The US stands ready to take direct action against terrorists capable of and intent on striking the homeland, in coordination with interagency and foreign partners. Simultaneously, the strategy seeks to empower allies and partners to lead efforts to degrade and destroy other terrorist organizations in the region.
Shift in Responsibility on the Korean Peninsula
Regarding the Korean Peninsula, the document claims that South Korea is capable of taking primary responsibility for deterring North Korea, with critical but more limited US support. It notes South Korea has the will to do so, facing a direct threat from the North. This shift is consistent with updating the US force posture on the peninsula, ensuring a strong US interest in the Western Hemisphere remains protected.
Posture Against Russia and Assessment of European Security
For Russia, the US Department will ensure forces are prepared to defend against threats to the Homeland. It will continue to play a vital role in NATO while calibrating US force posture in Europe to better account for the Russian threat to American interests and allies' capabilities. The assessment claims Moscow is in "no position to make a bid for European hegemony," noting that European NATO dwarfs Russia in economic scale, population, and latent military power, even as Europe's share of global economic power decreases.
The National Defence Strategy 2026 concludes by reiterating that American interests are under threat throughout the Western Hemisphere, framing all strategic moves within the context of homeland defense and regional stability.
