NATIONAL DEFENSE STRATEGY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OBJECTIVES ed to defend theIn support of the National Security Strategy, the Department of Defense will be prepared to defend the of power remainhomeland, remain the preeminent military power in the world, ensure the balances of power remain y and prosperity.in our favor, and advance an international order that is most conducive to our security and prosperity. riorities for theLong-term strategic competitions with China and Russia are the principal priorities for the magnitude of theDepartment, and require both increased and sustained investment, because of the magnitude of the hreats to increasethreats they pose to U.S. security and prosperity today, and the potential for those threats to increase er rogue regimesin the future. Concurrently, the Department will sustain its efforts to deter and counter rogue regimes olidate our gainssuch as North Korea and Iran, defeat terrorist threats to the United States, and consolidate our gains in Iraq and Afghanistan while moving to a more resource-sustainable approach. Defense objectives include:  Defending the homeland from attack;  Sustaining Joint Force military advantages, both globally and in key regions;  Deterring adversaries from aggression against our vital interests; sts;  Enabling U.S. interagency counterparts to advance U.S. influence and interests; rope, the Middle  Maintaining favorable regional balances of power in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and the Western Hemisphere; ercion, and fairly  Defending allies from military aggression and bolstering partners against coercion, and fairly sharing responsibilities for common defense; from acquiring,  Dissuading, preventing, or deterring state adversaries and non-state actors from acquiring, proliferating, or using weapons of mass destruction; the United States  Preventing terrorists from directing or supporting external operations against the United States homeland and our citizens, allies, and partners overseas;  Ensuring common domains remain open and free; ange  Continuously delivering performance with affordability and speed as we change Departmental mindset, culture, and management systems; and vation Base that cy.  Establishing an unmatched twenty-first century National Security Innovation Base that effectively supports Department operations and sustains security and solvency. STRATEGIC APPROACH ments of nationalA long-term strategic competition requires the seamless integration of multiple elements of national nt, and military.power—diplomacy, information, economics, finance, intelligence, law enforcement, and military. the initiative toMore than any other nation, America can expand the competitive space, seizing the initiative to more lethal force,challenge our competitors where we possess advantages and they lack strength. A more lethal force, of performancestrong alliances and partnerships, American technological innovation, and a culture of performance will generate decisive and sustained U.S. military advantages. 4 4