ISSUE BRIEF - The Next National Defense Strategy Must Get Russia Right

Introduction Forward Defense (FD) shapes the debate around the greatest defense Every US National Defense Strategy (NDS) must grapple with fundamen- challenges facing the United States tal trade-offs to address the myriad security threats facing the United and its allies, and creates forward- States and its allies and partners. [...] This approach can be im- It would be a mistake for the NDS to inadequately address plemented regardless of the outcome of the current crisis, Russian actions over the past two decades, including the but the degree to which it is followed should depend upon 2008 Russo-Georgian War and the 2014 illegal annexation the severity of the crisis as it evolves. [...] the greater whole-of-government competition strategy and should be focused on countering malign Chinese and Recommendations for the NDS Russian activities.”18 For the United States to effectively enhance and shore up Why Does the United States Need to be More Active in the security in Europe, the NDS should outline the DoD’s role in “Gray Zone”? deterring, mitigating, responding to, and defending. [...] The United the most significant national security challenge facing the States and its NATO allies and European partners must United States is the threat posed by China and Russia. [...] While SOF’s counterterrorism mission Conclusion in the Middle East and North Africa is unlikely to dis- appear, they must reorient a larger portion of their The 2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis and Russian invasion have force toward regions and missions that will aid the again shown that the Russian threat to regional and interna- United States in strategic competition with China and tional peace and s.