The 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS) has been published by the Department of Defense. The NDS details the DoD’s path into the next decade. The new publication is a result of the DoD conducting its strategic reviews – the National Defense Strategy, the Nuclear Posture Review, and the Missile Defense Review in an integrated fashion.

The Nuclear Posture Review reaffirms that as long as nuclear weapons exist, the fundamental role of U.S. nuclear weapons is to deter a nuclear attack on the United States and its allies and partners. The Missile Defense Review undermines a potential foe’s confidence in its ability to mount a successful nuclear attack.

The NDS cites the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the pacing challenge for the DoD. It sees the PRC as the most consequential strategic competitor for the coming decades. China is viewed as the only competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and the power to do so.

Russia is a competitor as well, and its recent aggression against Ukraine shows that it can be a cause of major instability. Russia can’t systemically challenge the United States over the long term – but it does pose an immediate threat to U.S. interests and values. Russia has emerged at the worst threat to European security since the end of the World War II.

The actions of both China and Russia reinforce the importance of allies and partners around the world. North Korea and Iran also pose threats. North Korea’s expanding nuclear and missile capabilities are worrisome. Iran is moving ahead with its nuclear program and it supports dangerous armed proxies in the Middle East. The NDS explains the concept of integrated deterrence – using every tool at the DoD’s disposal in close collaboration with counterparts in the U.S. government and with partners and allies.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Security Environment
• Defense Priorities
• Integrated Deterrence
• Campaigning
• Allies and Partners – Advancing Regional Goals
• Force Planning
• Building Enduring Advantages
• Risk Management
• Conclusion
• 2022 Nuclear Posture Review
• 2022 Missile Defense Review

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2022 National Defense Strategy, Department of Defense, October 2022, PDF, 80 pages.
https://media.defense.gov/2022/Oct/27/2003103845/-1/-1/1/2022-NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY-NPR-MDR.PDF

The Department of the Army has released its latest version of FM 3-0, Operations. The lessons learned from past conflicts in recent years have been shaping how the military fights and conducts operations. Multidomain operations started as an operating concept, and the U.S. Army is now solidifying it into doctrine.

Field Manual 3-0 remains rooted in the principles of war, reinforces the offensive mindset, and establishes multidomain operations (MDO) as the Army’s operational concept. MDO concept draws from previous operational concepts such as AirLand Battle, Full Spectrum Operations, and Unified Land Operations.

Contents by Chapter:

• Chapter 1 – Foundations of Operations
• Chapter 2 – Generating and Applying Combat Power
• Chapter 3 – Fundamentals of Operations
• Chapter 4 – Operations During Competition Below Armed Conflict
• Chapter 5 – Operations During Crisis
• Chapter 6 – Operations During Armed Conflict
• Chapter 7 – Operations in Maritime Environments
• Chapter 8 – Leadership During Operations

Contents by Appendices and other Sections:

• Appendix A – The Principles of War
• Appendix B – Command and Support Relationships
• Appendix C – Contested Deployments
• Glossary
• References
• Index

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FM 3.0, Operations, October 2022, PDF, 280 pages.
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN36290-FM_3-0-000-WEB-2.pdf

Image: Department of the Army.

The latest version of the U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) was released in October 2022. The NSS outlines how the U.S. will advance its vital interests and leverage all the elements of national power to compete against its adversaries. The NSS has the objectives of investing in the sources and tools of American power and influence, reinforce the coalition of nations to shape the global strategic environment, and modernize the U.S. military.

The NSS states that China is the only competitor with the intent and capability to reshape the international order and presents the most consequential geopolitical challenge. China is viewed as the ‘pacing challenge’. It is advancing its vision and national interests around the world across the full spectrum of competition – in the economic, technological, political, and security realms.

But the NSS also sees Russia as a dangerous and increasingly aggressive competitor. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine demonstrates how it is dangerous to its neighbors and a threat to world stability. The stiff opposition by the international community to Russia’s attack on Ukraine demonstrates the importance of building coalitions among nations.

The strategy provides guidance for updating the Department of Defense’s National Defense Strategy and National Military Strategy. It is used to set budgets, advance diplomacy, steer investment, and more. It is a guide for advancing the United States’ vital interests, compete with adversaries, and building coalitions with other nations. The U.S. military will rely on integrated deterrence – which is detailed in the DoD’s National Defense Strategy. Integrated defense encompasses all the domains of warfare – land, air, maritime, cyber, and space.

While the United States must focus on strategic competition with China and Russia, it must also pay attention to the threats of terrorism to the U.S. homeland and U.S. interests overseas. Climate change gets a lot of ink in this document; some national security observers have noted that perhaps this is over stated – detracting from the attention that China, Russia, Iran, Korea, and terrorist organizations should be getting. Other security challenges are noted as well: arms control, pandemics, corruption, food security, and more.

This strategy was finally released by the White House almost two years after the current administration taking office. The drawn out process was delayed by a changing world geopolitical environment – one of the most important events being the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, there are very few fundamental changes – China is still seen as the number one adversary, and Russia as number two. The NSS boils down to competing with China and containing Russia.

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References:

National Security Strategy, The White House, October 2022, PDF, 48 pages.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Biden-Harris-Administrations-National-Security-Strategy-10.2022.pdf

Fact Sheet: The Biden-Harris Administration’s National Security Strategy, The White House, October 12, 2022. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/10/12/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administrations-national-security-strategy/

National Security Strategy Aims to Address New Challenges, DoD News, October 13, 2022.
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3187907/national-security-strategy-aims-to-address-new-challenges/