Pentagon taps policy chief for next National Defense Strategy with eye on China, Iran
The next US National Defense Strategy is expected to more forcefully prioritize countering China's ambitions in Asia, but Washington's ability to do so will rely heavily on its diplomatic progress with Iran.
WASHINGTON — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has tapped the Pentagon’s top policy official to begin drafting Washington’s next National Defense Strategy (NDS), according to a memo released on Friday.
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s third highest-ranking official, is to oversee the process and submit the new strategy no later than Aug. 31.
“In order to drive urgent action on President Trump's imperatives to put America First and achieve Peace Through Strength, the NDS process will commence immediately, using the 2025 Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance as its basis and framework,” read the agency-wide memo signed by Hegseth.
Why it matters: The NDS is the guiding framework for the Pentagon’s approach to global posture and priorities, driving resourcing, training and future investment across the department.
