The American National Defence Strategy 2026 is yet again a deceitful document that has been published by the US Department of War. Just 20 days prior to its publication, the US invaded Venezuela and abducted its president, Nicolas Maduro.

Introduction

On 23 January 2026, the “Unclassified” version of the United States 2026 National Defence Strategy was published. The document is published every four years to outline the aims and objectives of the US Department of War. These guidelines are carefully prepared in light of the National Security Strategy, which is outlined by the US President and the Department of State. This January marks the first anniversary of Donald Trump’s first year as the President of his second presidential term. The year was turbulent, and the anniversary started with a document attesting to the turbulence in American policymaking.

The National Defence Strategy is a very important US government document that is published by the Department of War, previously known as the Department of Defence. Now, one question arises in one’s mind: shouldn’t the title of the document be National War Strategy, as President Donald Trump changed the department’s name.

The 2026 National Defence Strategy

The document starts with these lines: “For too long, the U.S. Government neglected - even rejected - putting Americans and their concrete interests first.” It then moves on to saying, “Previous administrations squandered our military advantages and the lives, goodwill, and resources of our people in grandiose nation-building projects and self-congratulatory pledges to uphold cloud-castle abstractions like the rules-based international order.” These two opening sentences set the stage for the entire document. The US leadership is in absolute dismay, and its global projects aimed at domination and control of the world’s resources have failed miserably.

The document clearly states that “No longer will the Department be distracted by interventionism, endless wars, regime change, and nation building.” However, it is quite an irony of the US that just 20 days before the publication of this document, the US conducted Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela that was clearly interventionism, an endless war, a careful regime change, and a desperate US attempt at new nation-building in Venezuela. One can easily understand that whatever comes from the US official and government sources, they do quite the opposite and always violate the sovereignty of nations all around the globe.

The document further says that “We will be the sword and shield to deter war, with the goal of peace - but ready to fight and win the nation’s necessary wars if called upon.” Well, the exact depiction of this assertion can be seen in the ongoing illegal and unconstitutional deportation operations by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The ICE agents have illegally killed 2 US citizens in the city of Minneapolis, namely Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

The entire Minneapolis is protesting the illegal actions of the ICE agents, and the State of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz also “warned that America was at an inflection point.” President Trump is using the sword and shield against the people of Minnesota, as the state voted against him and elected the Democratic Party candidate.

Common Sense - Nonsense

The document has used the term “Common Sense” for 5 times during the whole document. However, after reading the entire document, it seems that the entire strategy is complete nonsense. The American leadership wanted to put “America First,” but in doing so, it actually wants to invade and occupy other nations. This nonsense has been dominating US foreign policy for too long, and now it has become a habit that just can’t be changed.

About Russia

The US 2026 National Defence Strategy has a dedicated section about Russia. The section says, “Russia will remain a persistent but manageable threat to NATO’s eastern members for the foreseeable future.” The document also says that Russia “still retains deep reservoirs of military and industrial power” and “Russia has also shown that it has the national resolve required to sustain a protracted war in its near abroad.”

The National Defence Strategy has attested to and acknowledged Russia’s national power and its will to fight wars. However, this is exactly what Russia showed to the invading Napoleonic forces and Nazi Germany during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, respectively. Russia does not impose wars on others, yet it is willing to fight the wars imposed on its existence.

Conclusion

American power is declining, and the empire is absolutely depressed. However, it is noteworthy why America feels powerless. The American leadership maintained a purely hateful and hostile attitude towards the then Soviet Union during the Cold War. And, after that, America thought of a unipolar world where it could do what it wanted. However, despite the utmost desire of the American leadership and infinite investment in terms of money, men, and weapons, Russia is still dominating the battlefield.

The American leadership wants Greenland to keep a surveillance outpost against Russia in the Arctic and the North; however, President Trump has failed miserably, and these strategic setbacks are creating ripples among the American policymakers. President Trump’s dream of Make America Great Again is nothing but a fallacy based upon flawed ideas.

The US 2026 National Defence Strategy is the true reflection of the strategic failures faced by the US. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is no more effective, and we may soon see the complete disintegration of NATO.

Simon Westwood is a Masters student at the Dublin City University (DCU), Ireland. He is also a Research Assistant at the DCU’s Department of History. Courtesy

https://journal-neo.su/2026/01/30/us-2026-national-defence-strategy/