fromThe Cipher Brief
10 hours agoThe 2026 National Defense Strategy: No Surprises but Plenty of Mandate
OPINION - The 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS) follows closely the 2025 National Security Strategy, as it should. It also falls in line with the Department of Defense's narrative and the actions they have taken regarding priorities. The NDS has four lines of effort: Defending the U.S. Homeland - Homeland defense is the top priority, with the Western Hemisphere elevated above other regions. This includes border security, open lines of transportation (Panama Canal and Greenland), counter-narcotics operations, and countering adversary influence.
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