Pentagon Says Russia, China Biggest Concern for U.S. Defense Strategy

The Pentagon has unveiled a new collection of documents describing a comprehensive security policy for the United States, seeking more deterrence against a list of threats headed by Russia and China, The Hill reported.

Eight months after Russia invaded Ukraine and in response to recent Chinese threats to annex Taiwan, the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS) was unveiled with the Nuclear Posture Review and Missile Defense Review.

Despite the continued threat of terrorism, China and Russia now pose more serious threats to domestic safety and security, according to the document, which also notes that both nations have deployed space capabilities that could target American GPS and other space-based systems that support military power and everyday civilian life.

The policy also states that both Moscow and Beijing might employ a broad range of tactics to prevent the United States military from preparing for and responding to a fight, including destabilizing public opinion in the country and attacking vital infrastructure and other systems.

After the announcement of the policy, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters that while Russia, unlike China, cannot systematically threaten the United States in the long run, it does represent an urgent and serious danger to our interests and values.

The plan also emphasizes Iran’s nuclear program, the proliferation of nuclear weapons by North Korea, the threat posed by violent extremist groups like the Islamic State, al Qaeda, and al-Shabaab, as well as global problems like pandemics and climate change.

Austin referred to the plan as the Pentagon’s “north star,” but the text does not go into detail on how the Pentagon would collaborate with friends and partners or how it will modify its practices, weapon purchases, or people in order to counter the threats mentioned.

The U.S. administration bets that its own nuclear weapons “remain the ultimate backstop for our strategic deterrence” despite its anxiety over the expanding nuclear arsenals of China and Russia.