New U.S. Defense Strategy: 'Russia is a Managed Threat' 0 12

The U.S. Department of Defense will prioritize the protection of its own territory and the containment of China, providing "more limited" support to allies in Europe and other countries. This is outlined in the new U.S. National Defense Strategy (NDS) for 2026, published by the Pentagon on Friday, January 23.

"As U.S. armed forces focus on homeland defense and the Indo-Pacific region, our allies and partners in other regions will bear primary responsibility for their own defense with critically important, but more limited, support from U.S. armed forces," the document states.

The National Defense Strategy, developed by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, marks a significant departure from previous Pentagon policy - both in terms of increasing the burden on allies with less support from Washington and in terms of softening the tone towards traditional adversaries - China and Russia, notes AFP.

Containing China and 'Managed Threat' from Russia

In the previous defense strategy, published under Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden, China was identified as the main challenge for Washington, while Russia was labeled a "acute threat." The new document, in contrast, calls for "respectful relations" with Beijing, while not mentioning U.S. ally Taiwan, which the PRC considers its territory. The United States aims to contain China, while its approach does not imply regime change or open conflict, the strategy states.

Russia is described in the document as a "persistent but managed" threat, primarily affecting the countries on NATO's eastern flank. The Pentagon noted that Russia possesses the world's largest nuclear arsenal, "which it continues to modernize and diversify." However, it added that European NATO countries significantly outmatch Russia in terms of economic scale, population size, "and therefore, latent military potential."

The document cites World Bank data indicating that Russia's economic potential was estimated at $2 trillion in 2024, while the combined potential of NATO member countries' economies (excluding the U.S.) was $26 trillion.

Supporting Ukraine's Defense - Europe's Responsibility

According to Washington, NATO allies are capable of taking primary responsibility for the defense of Europe. "This includes a leading role in supporting Ukraine's defense. As President Trump stated, the war in Ukraine must end. However, as he also emphasized, this is primarily Europe's responsibility," the strategy states.

The new U.S. National Defense Strategy does not mention the dangers of climate change, which the Biden administration identified as an "emerging threat." Similar to the U.S. National Security Strategy published by the Trump administration in December 2025, the National Defense Strategy places Latin America at the top of the U.S. agenda. The Pentagon "will restore U.S. military dominance in the Western Hemisphere. We will use it to protect our homeland and our access to key territories throughout the region," the document states.