Pentagon’s 2026 Strategy Signals Retreat from Global Commitments

The US military will shift its focus toward defending the homeland and countering China, while scaling back support for allies in Europe and other regions, according to the Pentagon’s newly released 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS).

The document represents a major shift from previous policy, calling on allies to shoulder greater responsibility for their own security and adopting a less confrontational tone toward China and Russia. While reaffirming deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, the strategy describes Russia as a “persistent but manageable” threat and urges “respectful relations” with Beijing.

The strategy places heavy emphasis on border security, framing it as a core national defense issue. It criticizes the previous administration for failing to control illegal migration and drug trafficking, pledging that the military will prioritize sealing borders, repelling invasions, and deporting undocumented migrants.

Unlike earlier strategies, the 2026 NDS omits climate change as a security threat and elevates Latin America as a top strategic priority. It pledges to restore US military dominance in the Western Hemisphere, invoking the “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine to deter rival powers from the region.

The document follows controversial military actions in Latin America, including raids and maritime strikes that critics say may violate international law. Notably, the strategy makes no reference to Taiwan, despite ongoing tensions with China.