On July 29, 2024, the Commission on the National Defense Strategy, a bipartisan panel established by Congress, released its highly anticipated final report assessing the implementation of the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS). The report calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. military’s strategic posture, emphasizing the need for urgent adaptation to counter mounting threats from global adversaries—particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
A Call for Strategic Renewal
The commission’s findings underscore what it describes as a “critical juncture” for American defense policy. As geopolitical tensions heighten, especially with the rise of China as a near-peer military competitor, the panel warns that the United States risks losing its strategic advantage if it does not respond decisively.
“The United States must realign its defense priorities and resources to effectively deter and, if necessary, prevail in conflict against highly capable adversaries,” the report states. Central to its assessment is the recognition that traditional models of military dominance are being challenged by adversaries investing heavily in cyber capabilities, space technology, and advanced missile systems.
Key Recommendations
The commission offers a series of recommendations to recalibrate national defense strategy in line with today’s complex security environment:
- Modernize U.S. Military Capabilities: The report calls for accelerated investments in next-generation technologies, including hypersonic weapons, autonomous systems, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. These capabilities are deemed essential to maintaining superiority in a contested global theater.
- Strengthen Indo-Pacific Deterrence: Recognizing China as the “pacing threat,” the commission recommends bolstering the U.S. presence and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. This includes enhanced cooperation with regional allies such as Japan, Australia, South Korea, and the Philippines, and fortifying military installations in Guam and other Pacific locations.
- Enhance Readiness and Resilience: The U.S. military must prioritize operational readiness, especially for potential high-intensity conflicts. The report stresses the importance of logistics, cyber defenses, and command-and-control infrastructure that can function under sustained attack.
- Reinforce Strategic Partnerships: While the Indo-Pacific is a central focus, the report emphasizes maintaining NATO cohesion and increasing burden-sharing among allies. The commission supports expanding multilateral exercises and intelligence-sharing to build coalition strength against both state and non-state threats.
- Align Defense Budgets with Strategic Ambitions: The commission warns that current funding levels may be insufficient to support the full spectrum of capabilities outlined in the National Defense Strategy. It recommends aligning budget allocations with identified threats, urging Congress to prioritize defense spending that addresses emerging warfare domains.
Addressing Bureaucratic and Structural Challenges
The report is critical of what it views as institutional inertia within the Department of Defense (DoD), suggesting that bureaucratic inefficiencies hinder rapid modernization and innovation. It recommends governance reforms to streamline acquisition processes and promote faster deployment of advanced systems.
The commission also notes the importance of public-private partnerships in research and development, urging closer collaboration with tech companies and defense startups to keep pace with global innovation.
Reactions and Implications
Defense analysts have welcomed the report as a timely and sobering analysis of the United States’ strategic position. RAND Corporation, which supported the commission’s research, emphasized that strategic overmatch—long a cornerstone of U.S. military policy—can no longer be assumed without deliberate modernization and alliance-building.
On Capitol Hill, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee have indicated they will hold hearings to examine the report’s findings. Lawmakers from both parties expressed support for elements of the strategy, particularly the emphasis on Indo-Pacific deterrence and readiness improvements.
The Biden administration had already initiated some of the report’s suggestions during its term, and the recommendations may influence upcoming defense appropriations and policy decisions under the new administration.
The Road Ahead
The commission’s report serves as both a warning and a roadmap. It reflects a growing consensus among defense planners that the United States must act now to preserve its global leadership role and protect national security interests. Failure to modernize and adapt could leave the nation vulnerable in a rapidly evolving strategic landscape.
As global power dynamics continue to shift, the Commission on the National Defense Strategy’s report adds urgency to the national conversation on how best to secure peace, maintain deterrence, and uphold U.S. influence in the decades to come.
