DOD sends Congress classified National Defense Strategy

The Defense Department has sent Congress a classified 2022 National Defense Strategy to accompany the fiscal year 2023 budget request.

The Pentagon did not release an unclassified version of the strategy but did put out a fact sheet covering the NDS’ main themes and priorities. The unclassified NDS is “forthcoming,” according to DOD.

Deterring China remains DOD’s No. 1 priority, while the NDS acknowledges that Russia poses an “acute” threat in the near-term. DOD says it must also remain capable of managing other persistent threats from North Korea, Iran and violent extremist organizations.

Additionally, the NDS prioritizes the mitigation of climate change and “dangerous transboundary threats, including pandemics.”