QDR Ties

The Quadrennial Defense Review and Nuclear Posture Review will be “messy,” but that will not stop the Pentagon from consulting key allies and partners during the process, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said over the weekend.

In a May 30 speech in Singapore, Gates said new strategic realities will play a central role as the United States undergoes a number of policy reviews this year, including the QDR and NPR.

“These documents will lay out our view of the threats and challenges to our nation, and how that will be reflected in our future defense procurement and spending strategies,” he added.

Gates then predicted messiness and pledged openness.

“While it is at times a messy process, it will be an open and transparent exercise -- so that no one will get the wrong idea about our intentions,” he said. “We will consult with key allies and partners. And we will articulate our strategy clearly. It is our hope that this effort can be an example of the power of openness and its ability to reduce miscommunication and the risk of competitive arms spending.”

The reviews will help America pursue whole-of-government approaches that offer the only solution to the vexing security challenges of the modern era, Gates said.