Pentagon Downgrades China as Top Threat in New Strategy

The U.S. Department of Defense has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of its military priorities, signaling a move away from China-centric threat assessments toward a renewed focus on defending the U.S. homeland and securing strategic access across the Western Hemisphere.

A Major Strategic Reversal

Released Friday night, the National Defense Strategy represents a dramatic departure from both previous administrations and even the first Trump-era defense doctrine. Rather than prioritizing competition with China, the document accuses earlier governments of neglecting American interests and endangering access to key locations such as the Panama Canal and Greenland.

Homeland and Hemisphere First

The strategy emphasizes the protection of the U.S. homeland and influence across the Western Hemisphere, aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent military strikes in Venezuela and his renewed push to acquire Greenland. It calls for focusing on the “practical interests” of the American public while abandoning what it describes as “grandiose strategies.”

Europe’s Diminishing Role

Unlike the National Security Strategy released last month, the Pentagon’s document does not frame Europe as being in “civilizational decline.” However, it underscores the continent’s waning economic influence. While reaffirming continued engagement, the strategy makes clear that Europe is no longer a central pillar of U.S. defense planning.

China Still a Factor, but Not the Focus

Although China is no longer labeled the primary threat, the strategy maintains an emphasis on deterring Beijing through diplomacy and a “strong denial defense” in the Pacific. It echoes earlier assessments of China’s military buildup but offers few specifics on future U.S. deployments in the region.

Other Threats Take a Back Seat

Russia, Iran, and North Korea are mentioned as threats, though far less prominently than in previous strategies. The document also warns against ceding influence over key terrain in the Western Hemisphere, including the Gulf of Mexico, but provides limited detail on how the Pentagon plans to enforce this objective.

Delayed Release Amid Internal Debate

The strategy’s release comes after months of delay, following internal disputes over how to characterize the China threat during ongoing trade negotiations. Drafts reportedly reached Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last year but remained under review until now.