In the contemporary era, the global security environment has transformed into an increasingly complex phenomenon. The major powers are competing with each other on virtually each domain to deny their adversary any sort of potential benefits, leading to a significant enhancement in the strategic competition on the global stage. Apparently, it seems that the western dominance in the international affairs witnessed a consequential blow after the comeback of the Russian Federation and emergence of the People’s Republic of China as revisionist states, posing direct threats to the western hegemony in different regions of the world. In the midst of these chaotic scenario, the USA released its National Defense Strategy in 2022, under the Biden Administration. Interestingly, for the first time, the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) and the Missile Defense Review (MDR) were made part of the NDS, 2022 citing the need to integrate the three crucial elements of the US Defense Mechanism to increase its cumulative deterrent value. After carrying out a detailed assessment of the NDS, 2022, it becomes crystal clear that the USA considers itself to be the sole rightful guardian of global peace and stability. The document clearly indicates the pursuit of military might on part of America as the only way to deter the potential aggressors and adversaries of liberty and freedom. Therefore, it terms the rise of People’s Republic of China as detrimental to free and open international order deeming it as an advocate of Authoritarian international mode. To counter the growing influence of Chinese military in the Indo-Pacific region, it calls for the modernization and enabling of the deployed US forces in the far east Asia and proposes an integrated military posture involving its allies in the region. Moreover, it is stressing upon the need to build up India as a regional power to counter the expansion of China. The NDS 2022 terms the Federation of Russia as an acute threat to the US national interests, and hence underscores the prominent role of NATO in dissuading the aggressive designs of Russia vis-à-vis its pro-western neighbors. Reportedly, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a direct outcome of NATO’s expansion towards its backyard. Perhaps, the respective defense document declares Russia to be an irrational revisionist states that is determined to get its lost prestige. For the past two decades, the issue of terrorism used to be a top priority for the US policymakers. Perhaps, now the focus of US defense strategy seems to be gravitated towards containing aggression of Iran in the middle east and North Korea in the far east Asia, categorizing these two states as rogue elements in the international system. The threat perception of America drastically focused on its strategic competitors at the systemic level and emerging challengers of western influence at the regional level. The sole remedy to confront these states as enshrined in the NDS 2022 is continuous modernization and expansion of American conventional and nuclear forces in addition to regional security and defense partnerships with allies.
In order to counter the full-spectrum threats to the national security of the USA and its allies and partners, the NDS 2022 underscores the following four major functions of the Department of defense. First, it will take credible initiatives to safeguard the US homeland against potential nuclear and conventional strategic attacks. To bolster the missile defense system, it calls for the active deployment of Ground Based Midcourse Defense System (GMD) and enhancement of the existing capabilities of Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) and Patriot Air Defense Systems. Secondly, the NPR 2022 mandates the employment of strategic nuclear and conventional weapons to establish a deterrence by direct and collective cost imposition on the adversary. It substantially reduces the potential benefits of adversary’s unprovoked aggression relative to restraint. Thirdly, in case of inevitable conflict scenario with the potential state belligerents, the USA will develop and introduce the mechanism combat-credible Joint Force constituting all the elements of US armed forces to conduct effective network-centric and theatre specific military operations. These operations will target the center of gravity of the enemy and significantly reduce the potential repercussions of adversary strikes. The advanced warfare strategy seeks to incapacitate the warfighting capacity of the foe by attempting to create confusion in their decision-making process and subsequently via the employment of joint lethal force to exterminate the potentially destructive elements of enemy force. For this purpose, the drastic advancement in the cyber, space, information, electronic and emerging technology (AI, Quantum physics, Biotechnology, LAWS, Hypersonic Missile Systems) is mandatory. Lastly, the timely development of advanced military capabilities incorporating the latest technology and their integration in the war fighting force guarantee the competitive military advantage to the USA.
In addition to advancing the military hardware, the application of novel military strategies is equally significant. In this regard, the security and defense partnership with allies and partners in different theatres of the world serves the defense interest of America by dissuading the belligerents to employ hard power to achieve their strategic objectives. The establishment of QUAD, AUKUS and revamping of NATO is a clear indication of US intentions to counter China and Russia significantly in the Indo-Pacific and Europe respectively. However, the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia poses a concrete threat to the collective security paradigms of America and its western allies and partners. Till date, the west has not been able to deter and dissuade Russia from taking military actions against Ukraine. Additionally, china has been conducting large scale military exercise around Taiwan to signal its intent and capabilities to engage with Taiwan militarily and materialize its One-China policy. On the other hand, Iran and North Korea are perpetually pursuing the expansion and diversification of their military arsenals to target the vital interests of the allies and partners of USA in their respective regions. Interestingly, the NDS 2022 put forth the effective implementation of extended nuclear deterrence to Japan and South Korea in face of North Korean aggression. Perhaps, it would be intriguing to witness the deterrent value of extended deterrence in halting the unilateral actions of North Korea in the forthcoming days.
In brief, the NDS 2022 of the USA is quite similar to the National defense strategy unfolded in 2018. The threat perception mechanism has not deviated significantly, although the 2022 NDS emphasize on the development of military readiness to respond to the adverse campaigns of strategic competitors of the USA. Moreover, the prominent characteristic of NDS 2022 is the seamless integration of Nuclear Posture Review and Missile Defense Review. It outlines a framework for the defense forces of USA to operate and sustain their dominance in wide array of conflicts involving the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, conventional and sub-conventional warfare environments. Surprisingly, the NDS 2022 doesn’t prioritize the threats to global peace emanating from Violent Extremist Organizations (VEOs) constituting Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Another eminent feature of NDS 2022 is the continuous stress on state-level investment in the US defense industrial base and the development of its defense ecosystem that would guarantee lethal and synchronized expansion of America’s Hard power in all its forms and shapes.
Qazi Nashat Akram
Qazi Nashat Akram is an undergraduate student at NDU. His sphere of interest includes defense, security, military affairs, and intelligence.
