USA redefines its defense strategy

The National Defense Strategy (NDS) 2026, published by the U.S. Government, marks a profound strategic shift in North American national security policy. The document, which guides defense planning for the coming years, reorganizes traditional priorities to focus more explicitly on the protection of U.S. territory and its hemisphere, the balanced distribution of burdens among allies, and a more pragmatic approach to containing global rivals. This new strategy is not a technical update: it is a doctrinal realignment with tangible consequences for defense policies, international cooperation, and trade relations linked to military capabilities.

What is the National Defense Strategy?

The National Defense Strategy is a high-level document of the United States Department of War that articulates the nation’s strategic security and defense priorities, translates political objectives into planning and resource allocation, and guides military cooperation with allies. It is updated periodically to respond to changes in the global environment and the evolution of threats, from great-power competitors to asymmetric risks, and serves as a guide for the governance of investment, force deployment, and military industrial structuring.

How does the NDS 2026 change the U.S. approach?

• Towards the defense of the territory and the hemisphere: the strategy places the protection of the continental territory and the “Western Hemisphere” as a main focus. This approach prioritizes defensive capabilities—such as missile defense systems, border control, and aerial surveillance—over distant military commitments, and considers key geographic areas as strategic points within the area of responsibility.
• New burden-sharing among allies: one of the most discussed features of the document is the explicit call for more demanding burden-sharing. The United States urges its allies to increase defense spending to a global benchmark of 5% of GDP, aiming to balance the security load and allow Washington to focus on its direct priorities.
• China and the Indo-Pacific: although China remains a strategic competitor, the NDS 2026 adjusts the tone compared to previous views and makes direct confrontation less explicit, favoring deterrence through robust capabilities in the region and flexible cooperation with local partners.
• Changes in traditional cooperation: the text suggests that Europe and other regions should assume a more autonomous role in defense. This does not mean a total abandonment, but rather higher demands on their own capabilities and less automatic reliance on the United States in case of a crisis.
• Strategic industries and productive resilience: the NDS 2026 emphasizes revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base: accelerated production of munitions, advanced technological platforms, and replenishment capacity in prolonged conflict scenarios.

What does it imply for the global order?

Impact on alliances

The demand for higher defense spending and autonomous capabilities could reshape traditional alliances, forcing internal debates in Europe, Asia, and other regions about how much to invest and how to structure their forces.

Signals to competitors

In competing with powers like China and Russia, the U.S. strategy seeks to project sustained strength and industrial resilience, while maintaining less direct military presence in conflicts distant from “direct U.S. interests.”

Economic dimension

The call for high spending standards has a potential effect on the global economy, the defense market, and trade relations, especially in dual-use technologies that impact both civilian and military sectors.

“The question is no longer whether the U.S. can lead everywhere, but where it decides to do so.”
— Elbridge Colby, U.S. Under Secretary of War

And now what?

Immediate steps:

• The United States will adjust its budgets and deployments according to these guidelines.

• Allies will review their defense investment priorities.

• Analysts will observe implications in Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Do you know how the new U.S. priorities could affect security, trade, and international cooperation in your sector?