The final report of the National Defense Strategy Commission is a compilation of the assessments of the National Defense Strategy and recommendations based on its analysis related not just to defense strategy, but also to the larger geopolitical environment in which that strategy must be executed. They consulted with civilian and military leaders in the Department of Defense, representatives of other U.S. government departments and agencies, allied diplomats and military officials, and independent experts.

This publication is the consensus report of the Commission. The Commission argues that America confronts a grave crisis of national security and national defense, as U.S. military advantages erode and the strategic landscape becomes steadily more threatening. If the United States does not show greater urgency and seriousness in responding to this crisis and does not take decisive steps to rebuild its military advantages now, the damage to American security and influence could be devastating.


Related Publications

With Russia’s U.N. Veto, Where Do North Korea Sanctions Go From Here?

With Russia’s U.N. Veto, Where Do North Korea Sanctions Go From Here?

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Earlier this spring, Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council proposal to extend the “panel of experts” that had been monitoring the implementation of U.N. sanctions on North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs since 2009. While many saw the veto coming, the decision stands to majorly disrupt not just the enforcement of U.N. sanctions on North Korea but could undermine the effectiveness of U.N. sanctions as a whole. USIP spoke with George Lopez, who served previously on the panel in 2010-2011 and again in 2022-2023, about why Russia vetoed the renewal, what the international community loses now that the panel is finished, and what options there might be to replace it.

Type: Question and Answer

EconomicsGlobal Policy

Panama, Ecuador, and China: The Dangers of Short-Term Calculations

Panama, Ecuador, and China: The Dangers of Short-Term Calculations

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

The People’s Republic of China has become a significant political and economic force in Latin America and the Caribbean, and engagement with Beijing frequently means more compromise than partnership. This report focuses on Panama and Ecuador, two small but strategically important nations in the region where China has held out the promise of economic benefits in exchange for support for its global ambitions. The report discusses the pragmatic implications of this situation and offers recommendations for Latin American and US policymakers.

Type: Special Report

EconomicsGlobal Policy

Palestinian Factions Pledge Unity: Another Diplomatic Win for China?

Palestinian Factions Pledge Unity: Another Diplomatic Win for China?

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Hamas, Fatah and a dozen smaller Palestinian factions signed on Tuesday in Beijing a joint statement calling for, among other things, the formation of a national unity government. Fatah, the secular party that controls the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas, which perpetrated the October 7 terrorist attack that led to the ongoing war in Gaza, have been divided since 2007. Their rivalry has long been a thorn in the side of the Palestinian cause and numerous attempts at reconciliation have failed. This latest attempt comes as efforts to devise a post-war governance system for Gaza are picking up steam.

Type: Question and Answer

Global PolicyReconciliation

View All Publications