Strategic direction of the US Department of Defense in the US military budget 2022

Bayanalysis - The President’s Interim National Security Strategic Guidance (Interim Guidance), released on March 3, 2021, provides strategic direction to DoD and informs the Department’s priorities as reflected in the US military budget 2022 request.

The Interim Guidance recognizes that preserving America’s security requires a whole-of-government approach that leverages a broad range of instruments of national power. The military has a critical role to play in deterring war and protecting the security of the United States, but it is only one instrument of foreign policy.

Diplomacy, development, and economic statecraft—backed by highly capable armed forces that are equipped to deter our adversaries and defeat threats that emerge—are the tools of first resort to advance America’s interests globally.

The Interim Guidance’s elevation of diplomacy does not signify aweaker U.S. military; on the contrary, it maintains that a powerful military matched to the security environment remains a core American advantage, and the United States will never hesitate to use force when required to defend our vital national interests.

Accordingly, the readiness of our armed forces remains a top priority to ensure that the U.S. military remains the best trained and equipped force in the world.

To meet the strategic challenges posed by an increasingly assertive China, the Interim Guidance directs DOD to shift resources away from vulnerable platforms and weapons systems that are ill-suited to advanced threats and to redirect investments to cutting-edge technologies and capabilities that will determine our military and national security advantage in the future.

This will require streamlining the process for developing, acquiring, and deploying these technologies. Where possible the Interim Guidance emphasizes avoiding costly arms races and re establishes U.S. credibility as a leader in arms control, including in the pursuit of new arms contro arrangements.

The Interim Guidance recognizes that many of the greatest threats to American prosperity and security—including the climate crisis, global pandemics, cyber threats, and nuclear proliferation— are borderless challenges that require collective action.

In order to address those challenges, the United States must display global leadership and leverage the support of our allies and partners worldwide.

In particular, the United States will reinvigorate and modernize alliances and partnerships around the world, including both our core alliances in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and East Asia, and our partners in South and Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

America’s network of allies and partners is a unique and powerful competitive advantage, and one that will help the United States tackle shared challenges, including climate change and China-related defense priorities.

Finally, the Interim Guidance prioritizes the health of the national security workforce and to inspire a new generation to public service. The Interim Guidance directs DoD to ensure it is a workplace of equal opportunity that represents the diversity of the Nation, to eradicate workplace sexual harassment and assault, and to emphasize professional integrity, accountability, and transparency at all times.