NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY 0f the United States of America DECEMBER 2017 T H E W H I T E HOUSE WA S H I N G T O N D C My fellow Americans The American people elected me to make America great again I promised that my Administration would put the safety interests and well-being of our citizens first I pledged that we would revitalize the American economy rebuild our military defend our borders protect our sovereignty and advance our values During my first year in office you have witnessed my America First foreign policy in action We are prioritizing the interests of our citizens and protecting our sovereign rights as a nation America is leading again on the world stage We are not hiding from the challenges we face We are confronting them head-on and pursuing opportunities to promote the security and prosperity of all Americans The United States faces an extraordinarily dangerous world fi lled with a wide range of threats that have intensified in recent years When I came into office rogue regimes were developing nuclear weapons and missiles to threaten the entire planet Radical Islamist terror groups were flourishing Terrorists had taken control of vast swaths of the Middle East Rival powers were aggressively undermining American interests around the globe At home porous borders and unenforced immigration laws had created a host of vulnerabilities Criminal cartels were bringing drugs and danger into our communities Unfair trade practices had weakened our economy and exported our jobs overseas Unfair burden-sharing with our allies and inadequate investment in our own defense had invited danger from those who wish us harm Too many Americans had lost trust in our government faith in our future and confidence in our values Nearly one year later although serious challenges remain we are charting a new and very different course We are rallying the world against the rogue regime in North Korea and confronting the danger posed by the dictatorship in Iran which those determined to pursue a flawed nuclear deal had neglected We have renewed our friendships in the Middle East and partnered with regional leaders to help drive out terrorists and extremists cut off their financing and discredit their wicked ideology We crushed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ISIS terrorists on the battlefields of Syria and Iraq and will continue pursuing them until they are destroyed America's allies are now contributing more to our common defense strengthening even our strongest alliances We have also continued to make clear that the United States will no longer tolerate economic aggression or unfair trading practices At home we have restored confidence in America's purpose We have recommitted ourselves to our founding principles and to the values that have made our families communities and society so successful Jobs are coming back and our economy is growing We are making historic investments in the United States military We are enforcing our borders building trade relationships based on fairness and reciprocity and defending America's sovereignty without apology I NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY The whole world is lifted by America's renewal and the reemergence of American leadership After one year the world knows that America is prosperous America is secure and America is strong We will bring about the better future we seek for our people and the world by confronting the challenges and dangers posed by those who seek to destabilize the world and threaten America's people and interests My Administration's National Security Strategy lays out a strategic vision for protecting the American people and preserving our way of life promoting our prosperity preserving peace through strength and advancing American inf luence in the world We will pursue this beautiful vision--a world of strong sovereign and independent nations each with its own cultures and dreams thriving sideby-side in prosperity freedom and peace--throughout the upcoming year In pursuit of that future we will look at the world with clear eyes and fresh thinking We will promote a balance of power that favors the United States our allies and our partners We will never lose sight of our values and their capacity to inspire uplift and renew Most of all we will serve the American people and uphold their right to a government that prioritizes their security their prosperity and their interests This National Security Strategy puts America First President Donald J Trump The White House December 2017 II Table of Contents Introduction 1 Protect the American People the Homeland and the American Way of Life 7 PILLAR I Secure U S Borders and Territory 8 Defend Against Weapons of Mass Destruction WMD 8 Combat Biothreats and Pandemics 9 Strengthen Border Control and Immigration Policy 9 Pursue Th reats to Their Source 10 Defeat Jihadist Terrorists 10 Dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations 11 Keep America Safe in the Cyber Era 12 Promote American Resilience 14 PILLAR II Promote American Prosperity 17 Rejuvenate the Domestic Economy 18 Promote Free Fair and Reciprocal Economic Relationships 19 Lead in Research Technology Invention and Innovation 20 Promote and Protect the U S National Security Innovation Base 21 Embrace Energy Dominance 22 PILLAR III Preserve Peace through Strength 25 Renew America's Competitive Advantages 26 Renew Capabilities 28 Military 28 Defense Industrial Base 29 Nuclear Forces 30 Space 31 Cyberspace 31 Intelligence 32 V NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY Diplomacy and Statecraft 33 Competitive Diplomacy 33 Tools of Economic Diplomacy 34 Information Statecraft 34 P I L L A R I V Advance American Influence 37 Encourage Aspiring Partners 38 Achieve Better Outcomes in Multilateral Forums 40 Champion American Values 41 The Strategy in a Regional Context 45 Indo-Pacific 45 Europe 47 Middle East 48 South and Central Asia 50 Western Hemisphere 51 Africa 52 Conclusion 55 VI Introduction An America that is safe prosperous and free at home is an America with the strength confidence and will to lead abroad It is an America that can preserve peace uphold liberty and create enduring advantages for the American people Putt ing America fi rst is the duty of our government and the foundation for U S leadership in the world A strong America is in the vital interests of not only the American people but also those around the world who want to partner with the United States in pursuit of shared interests values and aspirations Th is National Security Strategy puts America first A n A merica First Nationa l Securit y Strategy is based on American principles a clear-eyed assessment of U S interests and a determination to tackle the challenges that we face It is a strategy of principled realism that is guided by outcomes not ideology It is based upon the view that peace security and prosperity depend on strong sovereign nations that respect their citizens at home and cooperate to advance peace abroad And it is grounded in the realization that American principles are a lasting force for good in the world separating Federal powers and protecting the We the People is America's source of strength Liberty and independence have given us the flour- The United States was born of a desire for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness--and a conviction that unaccountable political power is tyranny For these reasons our Founders crafted and ratified the Constitution establishing the republican form of government we enjoy today The Constitution grants our national government not only specified powers necessary to protect our God-given rights and liberties but also safeguards them by limiting the government's size and scope and confident Nation welcoming of disagree- rights of individuals through the rule of law All political power is ultimately delegated from and accountable to the people We protect American sovereignty by defending these institutions traditions and principles that have allowed us to live in freedom to build the nation that we love And we prize our national heritage for the rare and fragile institutions of republican government can only endure if they are sustained by a culture that cherishes those institutions ishing society Americans enjoy today--a vibrant ment and differences but united by the bonds of history culture beliefs and principles that define who we are We are proud of our roots and honor the wisdom of the past We are committed to protecting the rights and dignity of every citizen And we are a nation of laws because the rule of law is the shield that protects the individual from government corruption 1 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY and abuse of power allows families to live with- power with enormous advantages and momen- out fear and permits markets to thrive tum in the world Success however bred complacency A belief emerged among many that Our founding principles have made the United American power would be unchallenged and self- States of America among the greatest forces for sustaining The United States began to drift We good in history But we are also aware that we experienced a crisis of confidence and surren- must protect and build upon our accomplish- dered our advantages in key areas As we took ments always conscious of the fact that the inter- our political economic and military advan- ests of the American people constitute our true tages for granted other actors steadily imple- North Star mented their long-term plans to challenge America America's achievements and standing in the world and to advance agendas opposed to the United were neither inevitable nor accidental On many States our allies and our partners occasions Americans have had to compete with We stood by while countries exploited the interna- adversarial forces to preserve and advance our tional institutions we helped to build They subsi- security prosperity and the principles we hold dized their industries forced technology transfers dear At home we fought the Civil War to end slav- and distorted markets These and other actions ery and preserve our Union in the long strug- challenged America's economic security At home gle to extend equal rights for all Americans In excessive regulations and high taxes stifled growth the course of the bloodiest century in human his- and weakened free enterprise--history's great- tory millions of Americans fought and hun- est antidote to poverty Each time government dreds of thousands lost their lives to defend lib- encroached on the productive activities of private erty in two World Wars and the Cold War America commerce it threatened not only our prosperity with our allies and partners defeated fascism but also the spirit of creation and innovation that imperialism and Soviet communism and elimi- has been key to our national greatness nated any doubts about the power and durability of republican democracy when it is sustained by a free proud and unified people A Competitive World The United States consolidated its militar y victories with political and economic triumphs The United States will respond to the growing built on market economies and fair trade dem- political economic and military competitions we ocratic principles and shared security partner- face around the world ships American political business and military China and Russia challenge American power influ- leaders worked together with their counterparts ence and interests attempting to erode American in Europe and Asia to shape the post-war order security and prosperity They are determined to through the United Nations the Marshall Plan the make economies less free and less fair to grow North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO and their militaries and to control information and other institutions designed to advance our shared data to repress their societies and expand their interests of security freedom and peace We recog- influence At the same time the dictatorships of nize the invaluable advantages that our strong rela- the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the tionships with allies and partners deliver Islamic Republic of Iran are determined to desta- Following the remarkable victory of free nations in bilize regions threaten Americans and our allies the Cold War America emerged as the lone super- and brutalize their own people Transnational 2 INTRODUCTION threat groups from jihadist terrorists to transna- in combination with other elements of national power is ready to protect Americans against sophisticated challenges to national security tional criminal organizations are actively trying to harm Americans While these challenges differ in nature and magnitude they are fundamen- The contest over information accelerates these political economic and military competitions Data like energy will shape U S economic prosperity and our future strategic position in the world The ability to harness the power of data is fundamental to the continuing growth of America's economy prevailing against hostile ideologies and building and deploying the most effective military in the world tally contests between those who value human dignity and freedom and those who oppress individuals and enforce uniformity These competitions require the United States to rethink the policies of the past two decades--policies based on the assumption that engagement with rivals and their inclusion in international institutions and global commerce would turn them into benign actors and trustworthy partners For We learned the difficult lesson that when America does not lead malign actors fill the void to the disadvantage of the United States When America does lead however from a position of strength and confidence and in accordance with our interests and values all benefit the most part this premise turned out to be false Rival actors use propaganda and other means to try to discredit democracy They advance anti-Western views and spread false information to create divisions among ourselves our allies and our partners In addition jihadist terrorists such as ISIS and Competition does not always mean hostility nor does it inevitably lead to conflict--although none should doubt our commitment to defend our interests An America that successfully competes is the best way to prevent conflict Just as American weakness invites challenge American strength and confidence deters war and promotes peace al-Qa'ida continue to spread a barbaric ideology that calls for the violent destruction of governments and innocents they consider to be apostates These jihadist terrorists attempt to force those under their inf luence to submit to Sharia law America's military remains the strongest in the world However U S advantages are shrinking as rival states modernize and build up their con- An America First National Security Strategy ventional and nuclear forces Many actors can now field a broad arsenal of advanced missiles including variants that can reach the American The competitions and rivalries facing the United States are not passing trends or momentary problems They are intertwined long-term challenges that demand our sustained national attention and commitment homeland Access to technology empowers and emboldens otherwise weak states North Korea--a country that starves its own people--has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on nuclear chemical and biological weapons that could threaten our homeland In addition many actors have America possesses unmatched political economic military and technological advantages But to maintain these advantages build upon our strengths and unleash the talents of the American people we must protect four vital national interests in this competitive world become skilled at operating below the threshold of military conf lict--challenging the United States our allies and our partners with hostile actions cloaked in deniability Our task is to ensure that American military superiority endures and 3 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY First ou r f u nda menta l responsibilit y is to protect the American people the homeland and the American way of life We will strengthen control of our borders and reform our immigration system We will protect our critical infrastructure and go after malicious cyber actors A layered missile defense system will defend our homeland against missile attacks And we will pursue threats to their source so that jihadist terrorists are stopped before they ever reach our borders ty ranny We can play a catalytic role in promoting private-sector-led economic growth helping aspiring partners become future trading and security partners And we will remain a generous nation even as we expect others to share responsibility Strengthening our sovereignty--the first duty of a government is to serve the interests of its own people--is a necessary condition for protecting these four national interests And as we strengthen our sovereignty we will renew confidence in ourselves as a nation We are proud of our history optimistic about America's future and confident of the positive example the United States offers to the world We are also realistic and understand that the American way of life cannot be imposed upon others nor is it the inevitable culmination of progress Together with our allies partners and aspiring partners the United States will pursue cooperation with reciprocity Cooperation means sharing responsibilities and burdens In trade fair and reciprocal relationships benefit all with equal levels of market access and opportunities for economic growth An America First National Security Strategy appreciates that America will catalyze conditions to unleash economic success for America and the world Second we will promote American prosperity We will rejuvenate the American economy for the benefit of American workers and companies We will insist upon fair and reciprocal economic relationships to address trade imbalances The United States must preserve our lead in research and technology and protect our economy from competitors who unfairly acquire our intellectual property And we will embrace America's energy dominance because unleashing abundant energy resources stimulates our economy Third we will preserve peace through strength by rebuilding our military so that it remains preeminent deters our adversaries and if necessary is able to fight and win We will compete with all tools of national power to ensure that regions of the world are not dominated by one power We will strengthen America's capabilities--including in space and cyberspace--and revitalize others that have been neglected Allies and partners magnify our power We expect them to shoulder a fair share of the burden of responsibility to protect against common threats In the United States free men and women have created the most just and prosperous nation in history Our generation of Americans is now charged with preserving and defending that precious inheritance This National Security Strategy shows the way Fourth we will advance American inf luence because a world that supports American interests and reflects our values makes America more secure and prosperous We will compete and lead in multilateral organizations so that American interests and principles are protected America's commitment to liberty democracy and the rule of law serves as an inspiration for those living under 4 PILLAR I Protect the American People the Homeland and the American Way of Life We will defend our country protect our communities and put the safety of the American people first PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP T J U LY 2 0 1 7 his National Security Strategy begins with the determination to protect the American people the American way omy They steal and exploit our intellectual prop- of life and American interests Americans have tors and hold our critical infrastructure at risk long recognized the benefits of an interconnected All of these actions threaten the foundations of world where information and commerce f low the American way of life Reestablishing lawful freely Engaging with the world however does control of our borders is a first step toward pro- not mean the United States should abandon its tecting the American homeland and strengthen- rights and duties as a sovereign state or compro- ing American sovereignty erty and personal data interfere in our political processes target our aviation and maritime sec- mise its security Openness also imposes costs We must prevent nuclear chemical radiological since adversaries exploit our free and demo- and biological attacks block terrorists from reach- cratic system to harm the United States ing our homeland reduce drug and human traf- North Korea seeks the capability to kill millions of ficking and protect our critical infrastructure Americans with nuclear weapons Iran supports We must also deter disrupt and defeat poten- terrorist groups and openly calls for our destruc- tial threats before they reach the United States tion Jihadist terrorist organizations such as ISIS We will target jihadist terrorists and transna- and al-Qa'ida are determined to att ack the United tional criminal organizations at their source and States and radicalize Americans with their hate- dismantle their networks of support ful ideology Non-state actors undermine social We must also take steps to respond quickly to meet order through drug and human trafficking net- the needs of the American people in the event of works which they use to commit violent crimes natural disaster or attack on our homeland We and kill thousands of American each year must build a culture of preparedness and resilience Adversaries target sources of American strength across our governmental functions critical infra- including our democratic system and our econ- structure and economic and political systems 7 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY Secure U S Borders and Territory Priority Actions ENHANCE MISSILE DEFENSE State and non-state actors place the safety of the focused on North Korea and Iran to defend our American people and the Nation's economic homeland against missile attacks This system vitality at risk by exploiting vulnerabilities will include the ability to defeat missile threats across the land air maritime space and cyber- prior to launch Enhanced missile defense is space domains Adversaries constantly evolve not intended to undermine strategic stabil- their methods to threaten the United States and ity or disrupt longstanding strategic relation- our citizens We must be agile and adaptable ships with Russia or China DETECT AND DISRUPT WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION Defend Against Weapons of Mass Destruction WMD At our borders and within our territory we will bolster efforts to detect nuclear chemical radiological and biological agents and keep them from The danger from hostile state and non-state actors being used against us We will also better inte- who are trying to acquire nuclear chemical radio- grate intelligence law enforce- logical and biological weapons is ment and emergency manage- increasing The Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons against ment operations to ensure that its own citizens undermines Strengthening control internationa l norms against over our borders and these heinous weapons which immigration system is may encourage more actors to pursue and use them ISIS has The United States is deploying a layered missile defense system central to national security used chemical weapons in Iraq economic prosperity and and Syria Terrorist groups con- the rule of law frontline defenders have the right information and capabilities to respond to WMD threats from state and non-state actors ENHANCE COUNTERPROLIFERATION MEASURES Building on decades of i n it i at ive s we w i l l au g - tinue to pursue WMD-related ment measures to secure materials We would face grave el i m i n at e a n d pr event t he danger if terrorists obtained spread of W M D a nd related inadequately secured nuclear materials their delivery systems technologies and knowledge to reduce rad iologica l or biologica l materia l the chance that they might fall into the hands As missiles grow in numbers types and effec- of hostile actors We will hold state and non- tiveness to include those with greater ranges state actors accountable for the use of WMD they are the most likely means for states like We will direct coun- North Korea to use a nuclear weapon against TARG ET WM D TE R RORISTS the United States North Korea is also pursuing terterrorism operations against terrorist WMD chemical and biological weapons which could specialists financiers administrators and facilita- also be delivered by missile China and Russia tors We will work with allies and partners to detect and disrupt plots are developing advanced weapons and capabilities that could threaten our critical infrastructure and our command and control architecture 8 P I L L A R I P R O T E C T T H E A M E R I C A N P E O P L E T H E H O M E L A N D A N D T H E A M E R I C A N WA Y O F L I F E Combat Biothreats and Pandemics fied coordination systems to rapidly characterize outbreaks implement public health containment measures to limit the spread of disease a nd prov ide su rge med ica l ca re --includ ing life-saving treatments Biological incidents have the potential to cause catastrophic loss of life Biological threats to the U S homeland--whether as the result of deliberate attack accident or a natural outbreak--are growing and require actions to address them at their source Strengthen Border Control and Immigration Policy Naturally emerging outbreaks of viruses such as Ebola and SARS as well as the deliberate 2001 Strengthening control over our borders and immigration system is central to national security economic prosperity and the rule of law Terrorists drug traffickers and criminal cartels exploit porous borders and threaten U S security and public safety These actors adapt quickly to outpace our defenses anthrax attacks in the United States demonstrated the impact of biological threats on national security by taking lives generating economic losses and contributing to a loss of confidence in government institutions Advancements in life sciences that benefit our health economy and society also open up new ave- The United States affirms our sovereign right to determine who should enter our country and under what circumstances The United States understands the contributions immigrants have made to our Nation throughout its history Illegal immigration however burdens the economy hurts American workers presents public safety risks and enriches smugglers and other criminals nues to actors who want to cause harm Dedicated state actors are likely to develop more advanced bioweapons and these capabilities may become available to malicious non-state actors as well Priority Actions DETECT AND CONTAIN BIOTHREATS AT THEIR SOURCE We will work with other countries to detect The United States recognizes that decisions about who to legally admit for residency citizenship or otherwise are among the most important a country has to make The United States will continue to welcome lawful immigrants who do not pose a security threat and whose entry is consistent with the national interest while at the same time enhancing the screening and vetting of travelers closing dangerous loopholes revising outdated laws and eliminating easily exploited vulnerabilities We will also reform our current immigration system which contrary to our national interest and national security allows for randomized entry and extended-family chain migration Residency and citizenship determinations should be based on individuals' merits and their ability to positively contribute to U S society rather than chance or extended family connections and mitigate outbreaks early to prevent the spread of disease We will encourage other countries to invest in basic health care systems and to strengthen global health security across the intersection of human and animal health to prevent infectious disease outbreaks And we will work with partners to ensure that laboratories that handle dangerous pathogens have in place safety and security measures SUPPORT BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION We will protect and support advancements in biomedical innovation by strengthening the intellectual property system that is the foundation of the biomedical industry IMPROVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE At home we will strengthen our emergency response and uni- 9 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY Pursue Threats to Their Source Priority Actions ENHANCE BORDER SECURIT Y We will secure our borders th rough the constr uction of a border wall the use of multilayered defenses and advanced technology the employment of additional personnel and other measures The U S Government will work with foreign partners to deter detect and disrupt suspicious individuals well before they enter the United States There is no perfect defense against the range of threats facing our homeland That is why America must alongside allies and partners stay on the offensive against those violent non-state groups that target the United States and our allies The primary transnational threats Americans face are from jihadist terrorists and transnational criminal organizations Although their objectives differ these actors pose some common challenges First they exploit our open society Second they often operate in loose confederations and adapt rapidly Th ird they rely on encrypted communication and the dark web to evade detection as they plot recruit finance and execute their operations Fourth they thrive under conditions of state weakness and prey on the vulnerable as they accelerate the breakdown of rules to create havens from which to plan and launch attacks on the United States our allies and our partners Fifth some are sheltered and supported by states and do their bidding The U S Government will enhance vetting of prospective immigrants refugees and other foreign visitors to identify individuals who might pose a risk to national security or public safety We will set higher security standards to ensure that we keep dangerous people out of the United States and enhance our information collection and analysis to identify those who may already be within our borders E N H A N C E V E T TI N G We will enforce immigration laws both at the border and in the interior to provide an effective deterrent to illegal immigration The apprehension and swift removal of illegal aliens at the border is critical to an effective border security strategy We must also increase efforts to identify and counter fraud in the immigration process which undermines the integrity of our immigration system exploits vulnerable individuals and creates national security risks E N FO R C E I M M I G R AT I O N L AWS Defeat Jihadist Terrorists Jihadist terrorist organizations present the most dangerous terrorist threat to the Nation America alongside our allies and partners is fighting a long war against these fanatics who advance a totalitarian vision for a global Islamist caliphate that justifies murder and slavery promotes repression and seeks to undermine the American way of life Jihadist terrorists use virtual and physical networks around the world to radicalize isolated individuals exploit vulnerable populations and inspire and direct plots We w ill improve information sharing across our government and with foreign partners to enhance the security of the pathways through which people and goods enter the country We will invest in technology to counter emerging threats to our aviation surface and maritime transportation sectors We will also work with international and industry partners to raise security standards B O L S T E R T R A N S P O R TAT I O N S E C U R I T Y Even after the territorial defeat of ISIS and al-Qa'ida in Syria and Iraq the threat from jihadist terrorists will persist They have used battlefields as test beds of terror and have exported tools and tactics to their followers Many of these jihadist terror- 10 P I L L A R I P R O T E C T T H E A M E R I C A N P E O P L E T H E H O M E L A N D A N D T H E A M E R I C A N WA Y O F L I F E ists are likely to return to their home countries SEVER SOURCES OF STRENGTH We will disrupt the financial materiel and personnel supply chains of terrorist organizations We will sever their financattacks on the United States and our allies ing and protect the U S and international financial The United States also works with allies and systems from abuse We will degrade their ability pa r tners to deter a nd d isto message and attract potenr upt ot her foreig n ter rortial recruits This includes ist g roups t hat t h reaten combating the evil ideology the homeland--includof jihadists by exposing its We will give our frontline ing Iranian-backed groups falsehoods promoting countdefenders--including homeland such as Lebanese Hizballah er-narratives and amplifysecurity law enforcement and ing credible voices from which they can continue to plot and launch intelligence professionals-- Priority Actions Ou r allies and partners who are DISRUPT TERROR PLOTS We will also targets of terrorism will resources to stop terrorist acts en hance intelligence sharcontinue to share responsibefore they take place ing domestically and with forbility in fighting these bareign partners We will give baric groups We will help our ou r f r ont l i n e d efen d er s -- partners develop and responi nclud i ng homela nd secusibly employ the capacity to rity law enforcement and intelligence profesdegrade and maintain persistent pressure against sionals--the tools authorities and resources to terrorists and will encourage partners to work stop terrorist acts before they take place independently of U S assistance TAKE DIRECT ACTION S H A R E R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y the tools authorities and The U S military and other C O M B AT R A D I C A L I Z AT I O N A N D R E C R U I T M E N T I N The United States rejects bigotry and oppression and seeks a future built on our values as one American people We will deny violent ideologies the space to take root by improving trust among law enforcement the private sector and American citizens U S intelligence and homeland security experts will work with law enforcement and civic leaders on terrorism prevention and provide accurate and actionable information about radicalization in their communities operating agencies will take direct action against COMMUNITIES terrorist networks and pursue terrorists who threaten the homeland and U S citizens regardless of where they are The campaigns against ISIS and al-Qa'ida and their affi liates demonstrate that the United States will enable partners and sustain direct action campaigns to destroy terrorists and their sources of support making it harder for them to plot against us ELIMINATE TERRORIST SAFE HAVENS Time and ter- ritory allow jihadist terrorists to plot so we will Dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations act against sanctuaries and prevent their reemergence before they can threaten the U S homeland We will go after their digital networks and The United States must devote greater resources to dismantle transnational criminal organizations TCOs and their subsidiary networks Some have established global supply chains that are work with private industry to confront the challenge of terrorists and criminals going dark and using secure platforms to evade detection 11 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY comparable to Fortune 500 corporations Every day they deliver drugs to American communities fuel gang violence and engage in cybercrime The illicit opioid epidemic fed by drug cartels as well as Chinese fentanyl traffickers kills tens of thousands of Americans each year These organizations weaken our allies and partners too by corrupting and undermining democratic institutions TCOs are motivated by profit power and political influence They exploit weak governance and enable other national security threats including terrorist organizations In addition some state adversaries use TCOs as instruments of national power offering them territorial sanctuary where they are free to conduct unattributable cyber intrusions sabotage theft and political subversion We will use sophisticated investigative tools to disrupt the ability of criminals to use online marketplaces cryptocurrencies and other tools for illicit activities The United States will hold countries accountable for harboring these criminals COUNTER CYBER CRIMINALS Keep America Safe in the Cyber Era America's response to the challenges and opportunities of the cyber era will determine our future prosperity and security For most of our history the United States has been able to protect the homeland by controlling its land air space and maritime domains Today cyberspace offers state and non-state actors the ability to wage campaigns Priority Actions against American political economic and secuIMPROVE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND INTELLIGENCE rity interests without ever physically crossing We will establish national-level strategic intelliour borders Cyberattacks offer adversaries lowgence and planning capabilities cost and deniable opportunities to improve the ability of agento seriously damage or disrupt cies to work together to combat critical infrastructure cripple TCOs at home and abroad American businesses weaken America's response ou r Fe d e r a l n e t work s a n d D E F E N D CO M M U N ITI E S We will to the challenges and attack the tools and devices that deny TCOs the ability to harm opportunities of the cyber Americans use every day to comA merica ns We w ill suppor t municate and conduct business era will determine public health efforts to halt the our future prosperity growth of illicit drug use in the Critical infrastructure keeps our United States expand national food fresh our houses warm and security and community-based prevenour trade f lowing and our cittion efforts increase access to izens productive and safe The evidenced-based treatment for vulnerability of U S critica l addiction improve prescripinfrastructure to cyber phystion drug monitoring and provide training on ical and electromagnetic attacks means that substance use disorders for medical personnel adversaries could disrupt military command and control banking and financial operations the electrical grid and means of communication U S agencies a nd foreig n partners will target TCO leaders and their support infrastructure We will assist countries particularly in the Western Hemisphere to break the power of these organizations and networks DEFEND IN DEPTH Federal networks also face threats These networks allow government agencies to carry out vital functions and provide services to the American peo- 12 P I L L A R I P R O T E C T T H E A M E R I C A N P E O P L E T H E H O M E L A N D A N D T H E A M E R I C A N WA Y O F L I F E ple The government must do a better job of pro- BUILD DEFENSIBLE GOVERNMENT NETWORKS tecting data to safeguard information and the We will use the latest commercial capabilities shared ser- privacy of the American people Our Federal net- vices and best practices to modernize our Federal works must be modernized and updated information technology We will improve our abil- In addition the daily lives of most Americans rely ity to provide uninterrupted and secure communications and services under all conditions on computer-driven and interconnected technologies As our reliance on computers and connectiv- D E T E R A N D D I S R U P T M A L I C I O U S C Y B E R AC TO R S ity increases we become increasingly vulnerable The Federal Government will ensure that those to cyberattacks Businesses and individuals must charged with securing critical infrastructure have be able to operate securely in cyberspace the necessary authorities information and capa- Security was not a major consideration when the bilities to prevent attacks before they affect or Internet was designed and launched As it evolves hold at risk U S critical infrastructure The United the government and private sector must design States will impose swift and costly consequences systems that incorporate prevention protec- on foreign governments criminals and other tion and resiliency from the start not as an after- actors who undertake significant malicious cyber thought We must do so in a way that respects free activities We will work with allies and friends to markets private competition and the limited but expand our awareness of malicious activities A important role of government in enforcing the stronger and more resilient critical infrastructure rule of law As we build the next generation of dig- will strengthen deterrence by creating doubt in our ital infrastructure we have an opportunity to put adversaries that they can achieve their objectives our experience into practice I M P R OV E I N F O R M AT I O N S H A R I N G A N D S E N S I N G The Internet is an American invention and it The U S Government will work with our critical should reflect our values as it continues to trans- infrastructure partners to assess their informa- form the future for all nations and all genera- tional needs and to reduce the barriers to informa- tions A strong defensible cyber infrastructure tion sharing such as speed and classification lev- fosters economic growth protects our liberties els We will also invest in capabilities that improve and advances our nationa l security the ability of the United States to attribute cyberatt acks In accordance with the protection of civil Priority Actions IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE RISK liberties and privacy the U S Government will expand collaboration with the private sector so that To improve the secu- we can better detect and attribute attacks rity and resilience of our critical infrastructure we will assess risk across six key areas DEPLOY LAYERED DEFENSES national security energy and power banking and globally passing through communications back- finance health and safety communications and Since threats transit bones without challenge the U S Government will transportation We will assess where cyberat- work with the private sector to remediate known tacks could have catastrophic or cascading con- bad activities at the network level to improve sequences and prioritize our protective efforts the security of all customers Malicious activ- capabilities and defenses accordingly ity must be defeated within a network and not be passed on to its destination whenever possible 13 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY Promote American Resilience work together to defend our way of life No external threat can be allowed to shake our shared commitment to our values undermine our system of government or divide our Nation Despite our best efforts our government cannot prevent all dangers to the American people We can however help Americans remain resilient in the face of adversity Resilience includes the ability to withstand and recover rapidly from deliberate attacks accidents natural disasters as well as unconventional stresses shocks and threats to our economy and democratic system In the event of a disaster Federal state and local agencies must perform essential functions and have plans in place to ensure the continuation of our constitutiona l for m of gover n ment Priority Actions The United States will improve its ability to assess the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risks to Americans and will prioritize resources based on the highest risks IMPROVE RISK MANAGEMENT This Administration will take steps to build a culture of preparedness informing and empowering communities and individuals to obtain the skills and take the preparatory actions necessary to become more resilient against the threats and hazards that Americans face BUILD A CULTURE OF PREPAREDNESS Reducing risk and building more resilient communities are the best ways to protect people property and taxpayer dollars from loss and disruption Through risk-informed investments we will build resilient communities and infrastructure to protect and benefit future generations State and local governments must conduct realistic exercises that test existing plans to make sure that they are sound and can be executed Agencies from all levels of government must coordinate better and apply lessons learned from exercises to pinpoint the areas and capabilities that require improvement IMPROVE PLANNING Should tragedy strike the U S Government will help communities recover and rebuild Citizens must be confident in our government but also recognize that response and recovery begins with individuals and local communities In difficult times the true character of the American people emerges their strength their love and their resolve Our first responders selflessly run toward danger and volunteers rally to the aid of neighbors when disaster strikes INCENTIVIZE INFORMATION SHARING To improve the coordination among the private sector and all levels of government that is needed to improve resilience we must make a stronger commitment to protecting sensitive information so that all partners actively identify and share vulnerabilities and work collaboratively to reduce them A democracy is only as resilient as its people An informed and engaged citizenry is the fundamental requirement for a free and resilient nation For generations our society has protected free press free speech and free thought Today actors such as Russia are using information tools in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of democracies Adversaries target media political processes financial networks and personal data The American public and private sectors must recognize this and 14 PILLAR II Promote American Prosperity Economic security is national security PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP A NOVEMBER 2017 tional economy and remove the points of friction that had contributed to two world wars strong economy protects the American people supports our way of life and sustains American power American work- That economic system continues to serve our interests but it must be reformed to help American worker s pr o s p er pr ot e c t ou r i n nov at ion and ref lect the principles upon which that system was founded Trading partners and international institutions can do more to address trade imbalances and adhere to and enforce the rules of the order ers thrive when they are free to innovate develop and access our abundant natural resources and operate in markets free from excessive regulations and unfair foreign trade practices A growing and innovative economy allows the United States to maintain the world's most powerful military and protect our homeland We must rebuild our economic strength and Today American prosperity and security are challenged by an economic competition playing out in a broader strategic context The United States helped expand the liberal economic trading system to countries that did not share our values in the hopes that these states would liberalize their economic and political practices and provide commensurate benefits to the United States Experience shows that these countries distorted and undermined key economic institutions without undertaking significant reform of their economies or politics They espouse free trade rhetoric and exploit its benefits but only adhere selectively to the rules and agreements restore confidence in the American economic model Over decades American factories companies and jobs moved overseas After the 2008 global financial crisis doubt replaced confidence Risk-aversion and regulations replaced investment and entrepreneurship The recovery produced anemic growth in real earnings for American workers The U S trade deficit grew as a result of several factors including unfair trading practices For 70 years the United States has embraced a strategy premised on the belief that leadership of a stable international economic system rooted in American principles of reciprocity free markets and free trade served our economic and We welcome all economic relationships rooted in fairness reciprocity and faithful adherence to the rules Those who join this pursuit will be our closest economic partners But the United States will no longer turn a blind eye to violations cheating or economic aggression We must work with like- security interests Working with our allies and partners the United States led the creation of a group of financial institutions and other economic forums that established equitable rules and built instruments to stabilize the interna- 17 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY minded allies and partners to ensure our principles prevail and the rules are enforced so that our e c o n o m i e s p r o s p e r The United States will pursue an economic strategy that rejuvenates the domestic economy benefits the American worker revitalizes the U S manufacturing base creates middle-class jobs encourages innovation preserves technological advantage safeguards the environment and achieves energy dominance Rebuilding economic strength at home and preserving a fair and reciprocal international economic system will enhance our security and advance prosperity and peace in the world ulation burdened small businesses Banking regulations squelched new bank formation and caused hundreds of small banks to close Regulation decreased credit availability to consumers and decreased product choice Excessive environmental and infrastructure regRebuilding economic ulations impeded American strength at home and energ y trade a nd the develpreserving a fair and opm ent of n ew i n f r a s t r uc t u re proje c t s reciprocal international economic system will Moreover the poor state of our physical infrastructure stultienhance our security and fied the economy reduced the advance prosperity and profitability of American small peace in the world businesses and slowed the productivity of American workers America's digital infrastructure also fell behind Improvements in ba ndwidth better broadba nd connectivity and protection from persistent cyberattacks are needed to support America's future growth Economic and personal transactions are dependent upon the com world and wealth creation depends on a reliable secure Internet Economic challenges at home demand that we understand economic prosperity as a pillar of The Administration is dedicated to rejuvenatnational security Despite low unemployment ing the U S economy unleashing the potential of rates and stock market gains overall economic all Americans and restoring confidence in our growth has until recently been anemic since free market system Promoting American prosthe 2008 recession In the past five years gross perity makes America more secure and advances domestic product GDP growth hovered barely American influence in the world above two percent and wages stagnated Taxes increased and health insurance and prescripPriority Actions tion drug costs continued to rise albeit at a slower pace Education costs climbed at rates far above REDUCE REGULATORY BURDENS Departments and inf lation increasing student debt Productivity agencies will eliminate unnecessary regulations growth fell to levels not seen in decades that stifle growth drive up costs for American businesses impede research and development disSignificant government intrusion in the economy courage hiring and incentivize domestic busislowed growth and job creation Regulatory and nesses to move overseas We will balance our corporate tax policies incentivized businesses to invest overseas and disadvantaged American comreduction in regulations with adequate protecpanies against foreign competitors Excessive regt ion s a nd oversig ht Rejuvenate the Domestic Economy 18 PILLAR II PROMOTE AMERICAN PROSPERITY Promote Free Fair and Reciprocal Economic Relationships PROMOTE TAX REFORM This Administration will work with the Congress to create a simpler fairer and pro-growth tax code that encourages the creation of higher wage jobs and gives middleincome families tax relief Reduced business tax rates and a territorial system for foreign subsidiary earnings will improve the competitiveness of American companies and encourage their return to the United States For decades the United States has allowed unfair trading practices to grow Other countries have used dumping discriminatory non-tariff barriers forced technology transfers non-economic capacity industrial subsidies and other support IMPROVE AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE Federal state from governments and state-owned enterprises to and local governments will work together with private industry to improve our airports seaports and waterways roads and railways transit systems and telecommunications The United States will use our strategic advantage as a leading natural gas producer to transform transportation and manufacturing We will improve America's digital infrastructure by deploying a secure 5G Internet capability nationwide These improvements will increase national competitiveness benefit the environment and improve our quality of life gain economic advantages Today we must meet the challenge We will address persistent trade imbalances break down trade barriers and provide Americans new opportunities to increase their exports The United States will expand trade that is fairer so that U S workers and industries have more opportunities to compete for business We oppose closed mercantilist trading blocks By strengthening the international trading system and incentivizing other c ou nt r ie s t o em brac e m a r - REDUCE THE DEBT THROUGH FISCAL The national debt now over $20 trillion presents a grave threat to America's long-term prosperity and by extension our national security By restraining Federal spending making government more efficient and by modernizing our tax system and making our businesses globally competitive our economy will grow and make the existing debt more serviceable ket-friendly policies we can R E S P O N S I B I LIT Y enhance our prosperity The Administration is The United States distinguishes dedicated to rejuvenating between economic competition the U S economy unleashing the potential of all Americans and restoring confidence in our free market system with countries that follow fair and free market principles and competition with those that act with little regard for those principles We will compete with like-minded states in the economic doma in--pa rticu la rly where trade imbalances exist-- S U P P O R T E D U C AT I O N A N D while recognizing that compe- APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS tition is healthy when nations share values and build fair and reciprocal rela- We will support apprenticesh ips a nd workforce development prog ra ms t hat prepa re A mer ica n workers for h ig h-wage manufacturing and science technology engineering and mathematics STEM jobs of the 21st century tionships The United States will pursue enforcement actions when countries violate the rules to gain unfair advantage The United States will engage industrialized democracies and other likeminded states to defend against economic aggres- 19 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY sion in all its forms that threatens our common prosperity and security Lead in Research Technology Invention and Innovation Priority Actions The United States will build on the ingenuity that has launched industries created jobs and improved the quality of life at home and abroad To maintain our competitive advantage the United States will prioritize emerging technologies critical to economic growth and security such as data science encryption autonomous technologies gene editing new materials nanotechnology advanced computing technologies and artificial intelligence From self-driving cars to autonomous weapons the field of artificial intelligence in particular is progressing rapidly ADOPT NEW TRADE AND INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS The United States will pursue bilateral trade and investment agreements with countries that commit to fair and reciprocal trade and will modernize existing agreements to ensure they are consistent with those principles Agreements must adhere to high standards in intellectual property digital trade agriculture labor and the environment AND MODERNIZE EXISTING ONES The United States will counter all unfair trade practices that distort markets using all appropriate means from dia logue to enforcement tools COU NTE R U N FAIR TR ADE PR AC TICES The United States must continue to attract the innovative and the inventive the brilliant and the bold We will encourage scientists in government academia and the private sector to achieve advancements across the full spectrum of discovery from incremental improvements to game-changing breakthroughs We will nurture a healthy innovation economy that collaborates with allies and partners improves STEM education draws on an advanced technical workforce and invests in early-stage research and development R D Using our economic and diplomatic tools the United States will continue to target corrupt foreign officials and work with countries to improve their ability to fight corruption so U S companies can compete fairly in transparent business climates COU NTE R FOR E IG N COR RU P TION The United States will work with like-minded partners to preserve and modernize the rules of a fair and reciprocal economic order Together we will emphasize fair trade enforcement actions when necessary as well as multinational efforts to ensure transparency and adherence to international standards within trade and investment projects WORK WITH LIKE- MINDE D PARTNE RS Priority Actions U N D E R S TA N D W O R L D W I D E S C I E N C E A N D T E C H - To retain U S advantages over our competitors U S Government agencies must improve their understanding of worldwide S T trends and how they are likely to influence-- or undermine--American strategies and programs NOLOGY S T TRENDS FACILITATE NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES The United States will partner with countries as they build their export markets promote free market competition and incentivize private sector growth We will expand U S trade and investment opportunities and increase the market base for U S goods and services ATTRACT AND RETAIN INVENTORS AND INNOVATORS The U S Government must improve our collaboration with industry and academia and our recruitment of technical talent We will remove barriers to the full use of talent across Federal agencies and increase incentives for hiring and retaining Federal STEM employees Initiatives 20 PILLAR II PROMOTE AMERICAN PROSPERITY will include rapid hiring swift adjudication of national security clearances and offers of competitive salaries We must create easier paths for the flow of scientists engineers and technologists into and out of public service means to weaken our businesses and our economy as facets of cyber-enabled economic warfare and other malicious activities In addition to these illegal means some actors use largely legitimate legal transfers and relationships to gain access to fields experts and trusted foundries that fill their capability gaps and erode America's long-ter m compet it ive adva nt ages LEVERAGE PRIVATE CAPITAL AND EXPERTISE TO BUILD AND INNOVATE The U S Government will use private sector technical expertise and R D capabilities more effectively Private industry owns many of the technologies that the government relies upon for critical national security missions The Department of Defense and other agencies will establish strategic partnerships with U S companies to help align private sector R D resources to priority national security applications We must defend our National Security Innovation Base NSIB against competitors The NSIB is the American network of knowledge capabilities and people--including academia National Laboratories and the private sector--that turns ideas into innovations transforms discoveries into successful commercial products and companies and protects and enhances the American way of life The genius of creative Americans and the free system that enables them is critical to American security and prosperity The United States must regain the element of surprise and field new technologies at the pace of modern industry Government agencies must shift from an archaic R D process to an approach that rewards rapid fielding and risk taking RAPIDLY FIELD INVENTIONS AND INNOVATIONS Protecting the NSIB requires a domestic and international response beyond the scope of any individual company industry university or government agency The landscape of innovation does not divide neatly into sectors Technologies that are part of most weapon systems often originate in diverse businesses as well as in universities and colleges Losing our innovation and technological edge would have far-reaching negative implications for American prosperity and power Promote and Protect the U S National Security Innovation Base America's business climate and legal and regulatory systems encourage risk taking We are a nation of people who work hard dream big and never give up Not every country shares these characteristics Some instead steal or illicitly acquire America's hard-earned intellectual property and proprietary information to compensate for their own systemic weaknesses Priority Actions UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES The U S Government will develop a capability to integrate monitor and better understand the national security implications of unfair industry trends and the actions of our rivals We will explore new ways to share this information with the private sector and academia so they better understand their responsibilities in curtailing activities that undercut America's NSIB Every year competitors such as China steal U S intellectual property valued at hundreds of billions of dollars Stealing proprietary technology and early-stage ideas allows competitors to unfairly tap into the innovation of free societies Over the years rivals have used sophisticated PROTECT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY The United States will reduce the illicit appropriation of U S pub- 21 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY lic and private sector technology and technical that access to energy is diversified and recognizes the importance of environmental stewardship knowledge by hostile foreign competitors While maintaining an investor-friendly climate this Access to domestic sources of clean affordable and reliable energy underpins a prosperous strengthen the Committee on Foreign Investment secure and powerful America for decades to come in the United States CFIUS to ensure it addresses Un leash ing these abu nda nt current and future nationa l energy resources--coal natural security risks The United States gas petroleum renewables and will prioritize counterintelnuclear--stimulates the econligence and law enforcement For the first time in omy and builds a foundation for activities to curtail intellectual generations the United future growth Our Nation must property theft by all sources take advantage of our wealth in States will be an energyand will explore new legal and domestic resources and energy dominant nation regulatory mechanisms to preefficiency to promote competivent and prosecute violations tiveness across our industries Administration will work with the Congress to TIGHTEN VISA PROCEDURES The United States also anchors the North American energy system which is one of the most highly integrated in the world Our vibrant cross-border energy trade and investment are vital for a robust and resilient U S economy and energy market We are committed to supporting energy initiatives that will attract investments safeguard the environment strengthen our energy security and unlock the enormous potential of our shared region The United States will review visa procedures to reduce economic theft by non-traditional intelligence collectors We will consider restrictions on foreign ST EM students f rom desig nated cou ntr ies to ensu re that intellectual property is not transferred to our competitors while acknowledging the importance of recruiting the most advanced technical workforce to the United States Climate policies will continue to shape the global energy system U S leadership is indispensable to countering an anti-growth energy agenda that is detrimental to U S economic and energy security interests Given future global energy demand much of the developing world will require fossil fuels as well as other forms of energy to power their economies and lift their people out of poverty The United States will continue to advance an approach that balances energy security economic development and environmental protection The United States will remain a global leader in reducing traditional pollution as well as greenhouse gases while expanding our economy Th is achievement which can serve as a model to other countries flows from innovation technology breakthroughs and energy efficiency gains not from onerous regulation PROTECT DATA AND UNDERLYING INFRASTRUCTURE The United States will expand our focus beyond protecting networks to protecting the data on those networks so that it remains secure--both at rest and in transit To do this the U S Government w ill encou rage practices across compa n ies and universities to defeat espionage and theft Embrace Energy Dominance For the first time in generations the United States will be an energy-dominant nation Energy dominance--America's central position in the global energy system as a leading producer consumer and innovator--ensures that markets are free and U S infrastructure is resilient and secure It ensures 22 PILLAR II PROMOTE AMERICAN PROSPERITY As a growing supplier of energy resources technologies and services around the world the United States will help our allies and partners become more resilient against those that use energy to coerce America's role as an energy exporter will also require an assessment of our vulnerabilities and a resilient American infrastructure ENSURE ENERGY SECURITY The United States will work with allies and partners to protect global energy infrastructure from cyber and physical threats The United States will support the diversification of energy sources supplies and routes at home and abroad We will modernize our strategic petroleum stocks and encourage other countries to develop their own--consistent with their national energy security needs Finally the Nation's long-term energy security future rests with our people We must invest in our future by supporting innovation and R D including through the National Laboratories The United States will seek to ensure universal access to affordable reliable energy including highly efficient fossil fuels nuclear and renewables to help reduce poverty foster economic growth a nd promote prosper it y AT TAI N U N IVE RSAL E N E RGY ACCE SS Priority Actions The United States will promote clean and safe development of our energy resources while limiting regulatory burdens that encumber energy production and constrain economic growth We will streamline the Federal regulatory approval processes for energy infrastructure from pipeline and export terminals to container shipments and gathering lines while also ensuring responsible environmental stewardship REDUCE BARRIERS We will improve America's technological edge in energy including nuclear technology next-generation nuclear reactors better batteries advanced computing carbon-capture technologies and opportunities at the energy-water nexus The United States will continue to lead in innovative and efficient energy technologies recognizing the economic and environmental benefits to end users FURTHER AMERICA'S TECHNOLOGICAL EDGE The United States will promote exports of our energy resources technologies and services which helps our allies and partners diversify their energy sources and brings economic gains back home We will expand our export capacity through the continued support of private sector development of coastal terminals allowing increased market access and a greater competitive edge for U S industries PROMOTE EXPORTS 23 PILLAR III Preserve Peace Through Strength As long as I am President the servicemen and women who defend our Nation will have the equipment the resources and the funding they need to secure our homeland to respond to our enemies quickly and decisively and when necessary to fight to overpower and to always always always win PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP A central continuity in history is the contest for power The present time period is no different Three main sets of chal- DECEMBER 2017 States stands ready to cooperate across areas of mutual interest with both countries For decades U S policy was rooted in the belief that support for China's rise and for its integration into the post-war international order would liberalize China Contrary to our hopes China expanded its power at the expense of the sovereignty of others China gathers and exploits data on an unrivaled scale and spreads features of its authoritarian system including corruption and the use of surveillance It is building the most capable and well-funded military in the world after our own Its nuclear arsenal is growing and diversify ing Part of China's military modernization and economic expansion is due to its access to the U S innovation economy including America's world-class universities lengers--the revisionist powers of China and Russia the rogue states of Iran and North Korea and transnational threat organizations particularly jihadist terrorist groups--are actively competing against the United States and our allies and partners Although differing in nature and magnitude these rivals compete across political economic and military arenas and use technology and information to accelerate these contests in order to shift regional balances of power in their favor These are fundamentally political contests between those who favor repressive systems and those who favor free societies China and Russia want to shape a world antithetical to U S values and interests China seeks to displace Russia aims to weaken U S influence in the world and divide us from our allies and partners Russia views the North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO and European Union EU as threats Russia is investing in new military capabilities including nuclear systems that remain the most significant existential threat to the United States and in the United States in the Indo-Pacific region expand the reaches of its state-driven economic model and reorder the region in its favor Russia seeks to restore its great power status and establish spheres of inf luence near its borders The intentions of both nations are not necessarily fi xed The United 25 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY destabilizing cyber capabilities Th rough modern- tests will inf luence the political economic and ized forms of subversive tactics Russia interferes military strength of the United States and our in the domestic political affairs of countries around allies and partners the world The combination of Russian ambition To prevail we must integrate all elements of and growing military capabilities creates an unsta- America's national power--political economic and ble frontier in Eurasia where the risk of conflict military Our allies and partners must also con- due to Russian miscalculation is growing tribute the capabilities and demonstrate the will The scourge of the world today is a small group of to confront shared threats Experience suggests rogue regimes that violate all principles of free that the willingness of rivals to abandon or forgo and civilized states The Iranian regime spon- aggression depends on their perception of U S sors terrorism around the world It is developing strength and the vitality of our alliances more capable ballistic missiles and has the poten- The United States will seek areas of cooperation tial to resume its work on nuclear weapons that with competitors from a position of strength fore- could threaten the United States and our part- most by ensuring our military power is second ners North Korea is ruled as a ruthless dictator- to none and fully integrated with our allies and ship without regard for human dignity For more all of our instruments of power A strong mili- than 25 years it has pursued nuclear weapons tary ensures that our diplomats are able to oper- and ballistic missiles in defiance of every commit- ate from a position of strength In this way we can ment it has made Today these missiles and weap- together with our allies and partners deter and if ons threaten the United States and our allies The necessary defeat aggression against U S interests longer we ignore threats from countries deter- and increase the likelihood of managing competi- mined to proliferate and develop weapons of mass tions without violent conflict and preserving peace destruction the worse such threats become and the fewer defensive options we have Renew America's Competitive Advantages The United States continues to wage a long war against jihadist terrorist groups such as ISIS and al-Qa'ida These groups are linked by a common radical Islamist ideology that encourages vio- The United States must consider what is endur- lence against the United States and our partners ing about the problems we face and what is new and produces misery for those under their control The contests over inf luence are timeless They Although the United States and our partners have have existed in varying degrees and levels of inten- inflicted defeats on ISIS and al-Qa'ida in Syria and sity for millennia Geopolitics is the interplay of Iraq these organizations maintain global reach these contests across the globe But some condi- with established branches in strategic locations tions are new and have changed how these com- The threat from jihadist terrorists will persist petitions are unfolding We face simultaneous even as we intensify efforts to prevent attacks on threats from different actors across multiple are- Americans our allies and our partners nas--all accelerated by technology The United States must develop new concepts and capabili- Protecting American interests requires that we ties to protect our homeland advance our pros- compete continuously within and across these perity and preserve peace contests which are being played out in regions around the world The outcome of these con- 26 PILLAR III PRESERVE PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH Since the 1990s the United States displayed a great In addition after being dismissed as a phenomenon of an earlier century great power competition returned China and Russia began to reassert our military superiority was guaranteed and that their influence regionally and globally Today they a democratic peace was inevitable We believed are fielding military capabilities designed to deny that liberal-democratic enlargement and incluAmerica access in times of crision would fundamentally alter sis and to contest our ability to the nature of international relaoperate freely in critical comtions and that competition would mercial zones during peacetime give way to peaceful cooperation The United States will seek In short they are contesting our areas of cooperation with Instead of bu i ld ing m i ligeopolitical advantages and trytary capacity as threats to our competitors from a position ing to change the international nationa l securit y increased order i n t hei r favor of strength foremost by the United States dramatically ensuring our military Moreover deter rence today cut the size of our military to i s s i g n i f ic a nt ly m or e c ompower is second to none the lowest levels since 1940 plex to achieve than during the Instead of developing importand fully integrated with Cold Wa r Adversa ries studant capabilities the Joint Force our allies and all of our ied the American way of war entered a nearly decade long instruments of power and began investing in capabil procurement holiday during ities that targeted our strengths which the acquisition of new and sought to exploit perceived weapon systems was severely weaknesses The spread of acculimited The breakdown of the rate a nd i nex pen sive weap Nation's annual Federal budgeting process exemons and the use of cyber tools have allowed state plified by sequestration and repeated continuand non-state competitors to harm the United ing resolutions further contributed to the eroStates across various domains Such capabilision of America's military dominance during a ties contest what was until recently U S domitime of increasing threats nance across the land air maritime space and Despite decades of efforts to reform the way that cyberspace domains They also enable adversarthe United States develops and procures new weapies to attempt strategic att acks against the United ons our acquisition system remained sclerotic States--without resorting to nuclear weapons--in The Joint Force did not keep pace with emergways that could cripple our economy and our abiling threats or technologies We got less for our ity to deploy our military forces Deterrence must defense dollars shortchanging American taxbe extended across all of these domains and must payers and warfighters address all possible strategic attacks degree of strategic complacency We assumed that In addition adversaries and competitors became adept at operating below the threshold of open military conf lict and at the edges of international law Repressive closed states and organizations although brittle in many ways are often more agile and faster at integrating economic military and especially informational We also incorrectly believed that technology could compensate for our reduced capacity--for the ability to field enough forces to prevail militarily consolidate our gains and achieve our desired political ends We convinced ourselves that all wars would be fought and won quickly from stand-off distances and with minimal casualties 27 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY Renew Capabilities means to achieve their goals They are unencumbered by truth by the rules and protections of privacy inherent in democracies and by the law of armed conflict They employ sophisticated political economic and military campaigns that combine discrete actions They are patient and content to accrue strategic gains over time--making it harder for the United States and our allies to respond Such actions are calculated to achieve maximum effect without provoking a direct military response from the United States And as these incremental gains are realized over time a new status quo emerges Given the new features of the geopolitical environment the United States must renew key capabilities to address the challenges we face Military U S military strength remains a vital component of the competition for inf luence The Joint Force demonstrates U S resolve and commitment and provides us with the ability to fight and win across any plausible conflict that threatens U S vital interests The United States must prepare for this ty pe of competition China Russia and other state and nonstate actors recognize that the United States often views the world in binary terms with states being either at peace or at war when it is actually an arena of continuous competition Our adversaries will not fight us on our terms We will raise our competitive game to meet that challenge to protect American interests and to advance our values T he Un ited States must reta in over match-- the combination of capabilities in suff icient scale to prevent enemy success and to ensure that America's sons and daughters will never be in a fair fight Overmatch strengthens our diplomacy and permits us to shape the international environment to protect our interests To retain military overmatch the United States must restore our ability to produce innovative capabilities restore the readiness of our forces for major war and grow the size of the force so that it is capable of operating at sufficient scale and for ample duration to win across a range of scenarios Our diplomatic intelligence military and economic agencies have not kept pace with the changes in the character of competition America's military must be prepared to operate across a full spectrum of confl ict across multiple domains at once To meet these challenges we must also upgrade our political and economic instruments to operate across these environments We must convince adversaries that we can and will defeat them--not just punish them if they att ack the United States We must ensure the ability to deter potential enemies by denial convincing them that they cannot accomplish objectives through the use of force or other forms of aggression We need our allies to do the same--to modernize acquire necessary capabilities improve readiness expand the size of their forces and affirm the political will to win Bureaucratic inertia is powerful But so is the talent creativity and dedication of Americans By aligning our public and private sector efforts we can field a Joint Force that is unmatched New advances in computing autonomy and manufacturing are already transforming the way we fight When coupled with the strength of our allies and partners this advantage grows The future that we face is ours to win or lose History suggests that Americans will rise to the occasion and that we can shift trends back in favor of the United States our a llies and our pa rtners 28 PILLAR III PRESERVE PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH Priority Actions M O D E R N IZ ATIO N The United States must retain a ready force that is capable of protecting the homeland while defending U S interests Readiness requires a renewed focus on training logistics and maintenance We must be able to get to a theater in time to shape events quickly This will require a resilient forward posture and agile global mobility forces IMPROVE READINESS Ensuring that the U S military can defeat our adversaries requires weapon systems that clearly overmatch theirs in lethality Where possible we must improve existing systems to maximize returns on prior investments In other areas we should seek new capabilities that create clear advan- RETAIN A FULL-SPECTRUM FORCE tages for ou r m ilita r y wh ile The Joint Force must remain capable of deterring and defeatadversa r ies We must elim iing the full range of threats to the domestic manufacturing nate bureaucratic impediments United States The Department sector a solid defense to innovation and embrace less of Defense must develop new expensive and time-intensive industrial base and operational concepts and capacommercial off-the-shelf solubilities to win without assured resilient supply chains tions Departments and agendominance in air maritime is a national priority cies must work with industry to la nd space a nd cyberspace experiment prototype and rapdom a i n s i nclud i ng aga i n st idly field new capabilities that those operating below the level can be easily upgraded as new of conventional military contechnologies come online flict We must sustain our competence in irregular warfare which requires planning for a longACQUISITION The United States will pursue new term rather than ad hoc fight against terrorist approaches to acquisition to make better deals networks and other irregular threats on behalf of the American people that avoid posing costly dilemmas for our Support for a vibrant cost overruns eliminate bloated bureaucracies and stop unnecessary delays so that we can Defense Industrial Base put the right equipment into the hands of our A healthy defense industrial base is a critical element of U S power and the National Security Innovation Base The ability of the military to surge in response to an emergency depends on our Nation's ability to produce needed parts and systems healthy and secure supply chains and a skilled U S workforce The erosion of American manufacturing over the last two decades however has had a negative impact on these capabilities and threatens to undermine the ability of U S manufacturers to meet national security requirements Today we rely on single domestic sources for some products and foreign supply chains for others and we face the possibility of not being able to produce specialized components for forces We must harness innovative technologies that are being developed outside of the traditional defense industrial base CAPACITY The size of our force matters To deter conf lict and if deterrence fails to win in war the Nation must be able to f ield forces capable of operating in sufficient scale and for ample duration to defeat enemies consolidate military gains and achieve sustainable outcomes that protect the American people and our vital interests The United States must reverse recent decisions to reduce the size of the Joint Force a nd grow the force wh ile modern izing a nd ensuring readiness 29 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY the military at home As America's manufacturing base has weakened so too have critical workforce skills ranging from industrial welding to high-technology skills for cybersecurity and aerospace Support for a vibrant domestic manufacturing sector a solid defense industrial base and resilient supply chains is a national priority tial to prevent nuclear attack non-nuclear strategic attacks and large-scale conventional aggression In addition the extension of the U S nuclear deterrent to more than 30 allies and partners helps to assure their security and reduces their need to possess their own nuclear capabilities Following the Cold War the United States reduced investments in our nuclear enterprise and reduced the role of nuclear weapons in our strategy Some parts of America's strategic nuclear Triad of bombers sea-based missiles and land-based missiles are over 30 years old and much of our nuclear infrastructure dates to the World War II era At the same time however nuclear-armed adversaries have expanded their arsenals and range of delivery systems The United States must maintain the credible deterrence and assurance capabilities provided by our nuclear Triad and by U S theater nuclear capabilities deployed abroad Significant investment is needed to maintain a U S nuclear arsenal and infrastructure that is able to meet national security threats over the coming decades Priority Actions We will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of our defense industrial base including the identification of materials essential to national security contingencies that could affect supply chains and technologies that are likely to be critical for the future UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM The United States will promote policies a nd incentives that return key national security industries to American shores Where possible the U S Government will work with industry partners to strengthen U S competitiveness in key technologies and manufacturing capabilities In addition we will reform regulations and processes to facilitate the export of U S military equipment ENCOUR AGE HOMEL AND INVESTMENT Priority Actions The United States will sustain a nuclear force structure that meets our current needs and addresses unanticipated risks The United States does not need to match the nuclear arsenals of other powers but we must sustain a stockpile that can deter adversaries assure allies and partners and achieve U S objectives if deterrence fails The United States must maintain and develop skilled trades and high-technology skills through increased support for technical college and apprenticeship programs We will support STEM efforts at the Federal and state levels and target national security technology areas SUSTAIN U S NUCLEAR WEAPONS Nuclear Forces MODERNIZE U S NUCLEAR FORCES AND INFRA- PROTECT AND GROW CRITICAL SKILLS STRUCTURE We will modernize our nuclear enterprise to ensure that we have the scientific engineering and manufacturing capabilities necessary to retain an effective and safe nuclear Triad a nd respond to future nationa l security threats Modernization and sustainment require investing in our aging command and control system and maintaining and growing Nuclear weapons have served a vital purpose in America's National Security Strategy for the past 70 years They are the foundation of our strategy to preserve peace and stability by deterring aggression against the United States our allies and our partners While nuclear deterrence strategies cannot prevent all conflict they are essen- 30 PILLAR III PRESERVE PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH est will be met with a deliberate response at a the highly skilled workforce needed to develop ma nufacture a nd deploy nuclea r weapons time place manner and domain of our choosing MAINTAIN STABLE DETERRENCE To avoid miscalculation the United States will conduct discussions with other states to build predictable relationships and reduce nuclear risks We will consider new arms control arrangements if they contribute to strategic stability and if they are verifiable We will not allow adversaries to use threats of nuclear escalation or other irresponsible nuclear behaviors to coerce the United States our allies and our partners Fear of escalation will not prevent the United States from defending our vital interests and those of our allies and partners Priority Actions ADVANCE SPACE AS A PRIORITY DOMAIN America's newly re-established National Space Council chaired by the Vice President will review America's long-range space goals and develop a strategy that integrates all space sectors to support innovation and American leadership in space PROMOTE SPACE COMMERCE The United States will simplify and update regulations for commercial space activity to strengthen competitiveness As the U S Government partners with U S com- Space mercial space capabilities to improve the resil- The United States must maintain our leadership and freedom of action in space Communications and fi nancial networks military and intelligence systems weather monitoring navigation and more have components in the space domain As U S dependence on space has increased other actors have gained access to space-based systems and information Governments and private sector firms have the ability to launch satellites into space at increasingly lower costs The fusion of data from imagery communications and geolocation services allows motivated actors to access previously unavailable information Th is democratization of space has an impact on military operations and on America's ability to prevail in conflict sider extending national security protections to iency of our space architecture we will also conour private sector partners as needed MAINTAIN LEAD IN EXPLORATION To enable human exploration across the solar system and to bring back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities we will increase public-private partnerships and promote ventures beyond low Earth orbit with allies and friends Cyberspace Malicious state and non-state actors use cyberattacks for extortion information warfare disinformation and more Such attacks have the capability to harm large numbers of people and institutions Many countries are purchasing satellites to support their own strategic military activities Others believe that the ability to attack space assets offers an asymmetric advantage and as a result are pursuing a range of anti-satellite ASAT weapons The United States considers unfettered access to and freedom to operate in space to be a vital interest Any harmful interference with or an attack upon critical components of our space architecture that directly affects this vital U S inter- with comparatively minimal investment and a troubling degree of deniability These attacks can undermine faith and confidence in democratic institutions and the global economic system Many countries now view cyber capabilities as tools for projecting inf luence and some use cyber tools to protect and extend their autocratic regimes Cyberattacks have become a key feature of modern conflict The United States will deter 31 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY defend and when necessary defeat malicious actors who use cyberspace capabilities against the United States When faced with the opportunity to take action against malicious actors in cyberspace the United States will be risk informed but not risk averse in considering our options The ability of the United States to modernize our military forces to overmatch our adversaries requires intelligence support Intelligence is needed to understand and anticipate foreign doctrine and the intent of foreign leaders prevent tactical and operational surprise and ensure that U S capabilities are not compromised before they are fielded In addition virtually all modern weapon systems depend upon data derived from scientific and technical intelligence Priority Actions I M P R O V E AT T R I B U T I O N A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y A N D We will invest in capabilities to support and improve our ability to attribute cyberattacks to a llow for rapid response RESPONSE The IC as well as the law enforcement community offer unique abilities to defend against and mitigate threat actors operating below the threshold of open conflict Both communities have exceptionally strong liaison relationships throughout the world allowing the United States to cooperate with allies and partners to protect against adversaries E N HANCE CYB E R TOOL S AN D E XPE RTISE We will improve our cyber tools across the spectrum of conf lict to protect U S Government assets and U S critical infrastructure and to protect the integrity of data and information U S departments a nd agencies will recruit tra in a nd retain a workforce capable of operating across this spectrum of activity Priority Actions To prevent the theft of sensitive and proprietary information and maintain supply chain integrity the United States must increase our understanding of the economic policy priorities of our adversaries and improve our ability to detect and defeat their attempts to commit economic espionage IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING We w i l l improve the integration of authorities and procedures across the U S Government so that cyber operations against adversaries can be conducted as required We will work with the Congress to address the challenges that continue to hinder timely intelligence and information sharing planning and operations and the development of necessary cyber tools I M P R O V E I N T E G R AT I O N A N D A G I L I T Y The United States will in concert with allies and partners use the information-rich open-source environment to deny the ability of state and non-state actors to attack our citizens conduct offensive intelligence activities and degrade America's democratic institutions HARNESS ALL INFORMATION AT OUR DISPOSAL Intelligence America's ability to identify and respond to geostrategic and regional shifts and their political economic military and security implications requires that the U S Intelligence Community IC gather analyze discern and operationalize information In this information-dominant era the IC must continuously pursue strategic intelligence to anticipate geostrategic shifts as well as shorter-term intelligence so that the United States can respond to the actions and provocations of rivals FUSE INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS The United States will fuse our analysis of information derived from the diplomatic information military and economic domains to compete more effectively on the geopolitical stage 32 PILLAR III PRESERVE PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH Diplomacy and Statecraft Priority Actions PRESERVE A FORWARD DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE Our Competitive Diplomacy diplomats must be able to build and sustain rela- Across the competitive landscape America's dip- to-face diplomacy cannot be replaced by tech- tionships where U S interests are at stake Face- lomats are our forward-deployed political capa- nolog y Relationships developed over time bility advancing and defending America's inter- create trust and shared understanding that the ests abroad Diplomacy catalyzes the political United States calls upon when confronting secu- economic and societal connections that create rity threats responding to crises and encour- America's enduring alignments and that build aging others to share the positive networks of rela- bu r d e n for t a ck l i n g t h e t ion sh ips w it h pa r t ners world's challenges We must D iplom ac y su s t a i n s d ialogue and fosters areas of Diplomacy is indispensable to cooperation with compet- identify and implement solutions itors It reduces the risk of costly miscommunication D iplom ac y is i nd is p en s- to conflicts in unstable regions of the world short of military enable for wa rd- deployed field work beyond the confines of diplomatic facilities including partnering with military colleagues in con- involvement It helps to galvanize flict-affected states ment solut ion s to con- allies for action and marshal the ADVANCE AMERICAN INTERESTS f licts in unstable regions collective resources of like-minded I n t h e on goi n g c ont e s t s of the world short of mili- nations and organizations for power ou r d iplomats to address shared problems must build and lead coali- able to identify and imple- tary involvement It helps to galvanize allies for action and marshal the collective tions that advance shared i nt er e s t s a n d a r t ic u lat e resources of like-m inded America's vision in interna- nations a nd orga n iza- tional forums in bilateral tions to address shared problems Authoritarian relationships and at local levels within states states are eager to replace the United States Our diplomats need additional flexibility to oper- where the United States withdraws our diplo- ate in complex conf lict-affected areas mats and closes our outposts CATALYZE OPPORTUNITIES We must upg rade ou r d iplomat ic capabi l i- Diplomats must iden- tif y oppor tu n ities for com merce a nd coop - ties to compete in the current environment and eration a nd faci lit ate t he cu lt u ra l educa- to embrace a competitive mindset Effective diplomacy requires the efficient use of limited tiona l and people-to-people exchanges that resources a professional diplomatic corps modern create the networks of current and future polit- and safe facilities and secure methods to commu- ical civil society and educational leaders who nicate and engage with local populations will extend a free and prosperous world 33 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY Tools of Economic Diplomacy Priority Actions Retaining our position as the world's preemi- REINFORCE ECONOMIC TIES WITH ALLIES AND nent economic actor strengthens our ability to PARTNERS We will strengthen economic ties as a core aspect of our relationships with like-minded states and use our economic expertise markets and resources to bolster states threatened by ou r c omp e t it or s use the tools of economic diplomacy for the good of Americans and others Maintaining America's central role in international financial forums enhances our security and prosperity by expanding a community of free market economies defend- DEPLOY ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON SECURITY THREATS ing against threats from state-led economies and We will use existing and pursue new economic authorities and mobilize international actors to increase pressure on threats to peace and security in order to resolve confrontations short of militar y action protecting the U S and international economy from abuse by illicit actors We want to create wealth for Americans and our allies and partners Prosperous states are stron- We will deny revenue to terrorists WMD proliferators and other illicit actors in order to constrain their ability to use and move funds to support hostile acts and operations S E VE R SO U RCE S O F F U N D I N G ger security partners who are able to share the bu rden of con f ronting common threats Fair and reciprocal trade investments and exchanges of knowledge deepen our alliances and partnerships America's competitors which are necessary to succeed weaponize information in today's competitive geopoliti- to attack the values and cal environment Trade export institutions that underpin Information Statecraft America's competitors weaponize information to attack the free societies while eign assistance and modernva lues a nd institutions that shielding themselves from underpin free societies while ized development finance tools outside information shielding themselves from outcan promote stability prosperside information They exploit ity and political reform and marketing techniques to tarbuild new partnerships based get i nd iv idu a ls ba sed upon on the principle of reciprocity t hei r act iv it ies i nterest s Economic tools--including sanctions anti-monopinions and values They disseminate misey-laundering and anti-corruption measures and i n for m at ion a nd propaga nd a promotion targeted use of for- enforcement actions--can be important parts of Risks to U S national security will grow as competitors integrate information derived from personal and commercial sources with intelligence collection and data analytic capabilities based on Artificial Intelligence AI and machine learning Breaches of U S commercial and government organizations also provide adversaries with data and insights into their target audiences broader strategies to deter coerce and constrain adversaries We will work with like-minded partners to build support for tools of economic diplomacy against shared threats Multilateral economic pressure is often more effective because it limits the ability of targeted states to circumvent measures and conveys united resolve 34 PILLAR III PRESERVE PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH Local voices are most compelling and effective in ideological competitions We must amplify credible voices and partner with them to advance alternatives to violent and hateful messages Since media and Internet companies are the platforms through which messages are transported the private sector should lend its creativity and resources to promoting the values that inspire and grow a community of civilized groups and individuals China for example combines data and the use of AI to rate the loyalty of its citizens to the state and uses these ratings to determine jobs and more Jihadist terrorist groups continue to wage ideological information campaigns to establish and legitimize their narrative of hate using sophisticated communications tools to attract recruits and encourage attacks against Americans and our partners ACTIVATE LOCAL NETWORKS Russia uses information operations as part of its offensive cyber efforts to inf luence public opinion across the globe Its influence campaigns blend covert intelligence operations and false online personas with state-funded media third-party intermediaries and paid social media users or trolls The United States will urge states where radicalism thrives to take greater responsibility for countering violent messaging and promoting tolerant and pluralistic worldviews S HAR E R E S P O N S I B I LIT Y U S efforts to counter the exploitation of information by rivals have been tepid and fragmented U S efforts have lacked a sustained focus and have been hampered by the lack of properly trained professionals The American private sector has a direct interest in supporting and amplifying voices that stand for tolerance openness and freedom We w i l l reexamine legacy delivery platforms for communicating U S messages overseas We must consider more cost-effective and efficient ways to deliver and evaluate content consistent with U S national security interests U P G R A D E TA I L O R A N D I N N O VAT E Priority Actions We will improve our understanding of how adversaries gain informational and psychological advantages across all policies The United States must empower a true public diplomacy capability to compete effectively in this arena P R IO R ITIZ E TH E CO M P E TITIO N DRIVE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS We will craft and direct coherent communications campaigns to advance American influence and counter challenges from the ideological threats that emanate from radical Islamist groups and competitor nations These campaigns will adhere to American values and expose adversary propaganda and disinformation 35 PILLAR IV Advance American Influence Above all we value the dignity of every human life protect the rights of every person and share the hope of every soul to live in freedom That is who we are PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP O J U LY 2 0 1 7 ur America First foreign policy celebrates A merica's in f luence in the world as a positive force that can help set the conditions for peace and prosperity and for developing successful societies qualities have made America the richest coun- There is no arc of history that ensures that America's free political and economic system will automatically prevail Success or failure depends upon our actions This Administration has the confidence to compete to protect our values and interests and the fundamental principles that underpin them We lead by example The world has its eye upon During the Cold War a totalitarian threat from the Soviet Union motivated the free world to create coalitions in defense of liberty Today's challenges to free societies are just as serious but more diverse State and non-state actors project inf luence and advance their objectives by exploiting information democratic media freedoms and international institutions Repressive leaders often collaborate to subvert free societies and corrupt multilateral organizations We are not going to impose our values on oth- try on earth--rich in culture talent opportunities and material wealth The United States offers partnership to those who share our aspirations for freedom and prosperity America Alexander Hamilton once observed The noble struggle we have made in the cause of liberty has occasioned a kind of revolution in human sentiment The inf luence of our example has penetrated the gloomy regions of despotism ers Our alliances partnerships and coalitions are built on free will and shared interests When the United States partners with other states we develop policies that enable us to achieve our goals while our partners achieve theirs Allies and partners are a great strength of the United States They add directly to U S political economic military intelligence and other capabilities Together the United States and our Around the world nations and individuals admire what America stands for We treat people equally and value and uphold the rule of law We have a democratic system that allows the best ideas to f lourish We know how to grow economies so that individuals can achieve prosperity These allies and partners represent well over half of the global GDP None of our adversaries have comparable coalitions We encourage those who want to join our community of like-minded democratic states and 37 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY improve the condition of their peoples By mod- ongoing integration of Central and Eastern Europe into Western institutions after the Cold War In Asia the United States worked with South Korea and Japan countries ravaged by war to help them become successful democracies and among the most prosperous economies in the world ernizing U S instruments of diplomacy and development we will catalyze conditions to help them achieve that goal These aspiring partners include states that are fragile recovering from conf lict and seeking a path forward to sustainable security and economic growth Stable prosper- These achievements were products of patient partnerships American security and boost There is no arc of history with those who aspired to build U S economic opportunities prosperous societies and join that ensures that America's the community of democratic We w i l l c ont i nue to ch a mfree political and economic states They resulted in mutupion A m e r ic a n v a lue s a n d system will automatically ally beneficial relationships in offer encouragement to those prevail Success or failure which the United States helped s t r u g g l i n g for hu m a n d ig s t a t e s m o bi l i z e t h e i r ow n depends upon our actions nity in their societies There resources to achieve transitions can be no moral equivalency to growth and stability Working between nations that uphold the with these countries made the rule of law empower women United States wealthier and and respect individual rights more competitive This progress illustrates how and those that brutalize and suppress their peoeffective foreign assistance programs should reach ple Through our words and deeds America their natural endpoint demonstrates a positive alternative to political ous and friendly states enhance and religious despotism Today the United States must compete for positive relationships around the world China and Russia target their investments in the developing world to expand influence and gain competitive advantages against the United States China is investing billions of dollars in infrastructure across the globe Russia too projects its inf luence economically through the control of key energy and other infrastructure throughout parts of Europe and Central Asia The United States provides an alternative to state-directed investments which often leave developing countries worse off The United States pursues economic ties not only for market access but also to create enduring relationships to advance common political and security interests Encourage Aspiring Partners Some of the greatest triumphs of American statecraft resulted from helping fragile and developing countries become successful societies These successes in turn created profitable markets for American businesses allies to help achieve favorable regional balances of power and coalition partners to share burdens and address a variety of problems around the world Over time the United States has helped create a network of states that advance our common interests and values Th is historical record is unprecedented and excep- The United States will promote a development model that partners with countries that want progress consistent with their culture based on free market principles fair and reciprocal trade private tional American support to aspiring partners enabled the recovery of the countries of Western Europe under the Marshall Plan as well as the 38 P I L L A R I V A DVA N C E A M E R I C A N I N F L U E N C E sector activity and rule of law The United States will shift away from a reliance on assistance based on grants to approaches that attract private capital and catalyze private sector activity We will emphasize reforms that unlock the economic potential of citizens such as the promotion of formal property rights entrepreneurial reforms and infrastructure improvements--projects that help people earn their livelihood and have the added benefit of helping U S businesses By mobilizing both public and private resources the United States can help maximize returns and outcomes and reduce the burden on U S Government resources Unlike the state-directed mercantilism of some competitors that can disadvantage recipient nations and promote dependency the purpose of U S foreign assistance should be to end the need for it The United States seeks strong partners not weak ones companies American-led investments represent the most sustainable and responsible approach to development and offer a stark contrast to the corrupt opaque exploitive and low-quality deals offered by authoritarian states Priority Actions Developing Countries The United States will modernize its development finance tools so that U S companies have incentives to capitalize on opportunities in developing countries With these changes the United States will not be left behind as other states use investment and project finance to extend their inf luence In addition the U S Government must not be an obstacle to U S compa n ies that wa nt to conduct business in the developing world MOBILIZE RESOURCES U S development a ssist a nce must suppor t America's national interests We will prioritize collaboration with aspiring partners that are aligned with U S interests We will focus on development investments where we can have the most impact-- where local reformers are committed to tackling their economic and political challenges CAPITALIZE ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES We will incorporate innovative technologies in our diplomatic and development programs For example digital technologies enable millions to access financial services through their cell phones and can connect farmers to markets Such technologies can reduce corruption increase transparency and help ensure that money reaches its intended destination Within this framework the United States will also assist fragile states to prevent threats to the U S homeland Transnational threat organizations such as jihadist terrorists and organized crime often operate freely from fragile states and undermine sovereign governments Failing states can destabilize entire regions The United States will use diplomacy and assistance to encourage states to make choices that improve governance rule of law and sustainable development We already do th is th rough the Millen n iu m Cha llenge Corporation which selects countries that are committed to reform and then monitors and evaluates their projects INCENTIVIZE REFORMS Across Africa Latin America and Asia states are eager for investments and financing to develop their infrastructure and propel growth The United States and its partners have opportunities to work with countries to help them realize their potential as prosperous and sovereign states that are accountable to their people Such states can become trading partners that buy more American-made goods and create more predictable business environments that benefit American Priority Actions Fragile States We will give priority to strengthening states where state weaknesses or failure would magnify threats to the American CO M M IT S E LE C TIV E LY 39 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY h o m e l a n d Fo r i n s t a n c e e n g a g e m e n t i n and an open interoperable Internet are inseparable from the success of the U S economy Afghanistan seeks to prevent the reemergence of terrorist safe havens WORK WITH REFORMERS Authoritarian actors have long recognized the power of multilateral bodies and have used them to advance their interests and limit the freedom of their own citizens If the United States cedes leadership of these bodies to adversaries opportunities to shape developments that are positive for the United States will be lost All institutions are not equal however The United States will prioritize its efforts in those organizations that serve American interests to ensure that they are strengthened and supportive of the United States our allies and our partners Where existing institutions and rules need modernizing the United States will lead to update them At the same time it should be clear that the United States will not cede sovereignty to those that claim authority over American citizens and are in conflict with our constitutional framework Political problems are at the root of most state fragility The United States will prioritize programs that empower reformminded governments people and civil society As the United States designs its efforts inputs from local actors improve the likelihood of enduring solutions reduce costs and increase accountability to the American taxpayer SYNCHRONIZE ACTIONS The United States must use its diplomatic economic and military tools simultaneously when assisting aspiring partners We w i l l place a pr ior it y on econom ic support that achieves local and macroeconomic stability helps build capable security forces and strengthens the rule of law Achieve Better Outcomes in Multilateral Forums Priority Actions EXERCISE LEADERSHIP IN POLITICAL AND SECURIT Y The United States must lead and engage in the The United States will strive for outcomes in political and security forums that are consistent with U S interests and values--values which are shared by our allies and partners The United Nations can help contribute to solving many of the complex problems in the world but it must be reformed and recommit to its founding principles We will require accountability and emphasize shared responsibility among members If the United States is asked to provide a disproportionate level of support for an institution we will expect a commensurate degree of inf luence over the direction and efforts of that institution BODIES multinational arrangements that shape many of the rules that affect U S interests and values A competition for influence exists in these institutions As we participate in them we must protect American sovereignty and advance American interests and values A range of international institutions establishes the rules for how states businesses and individuals interact with each other across land and sea the Arctic outer space and the digital realm It is vital to U S prosperity and security that these institutions uphold the rules that help keep these common domains open and free Free access to the seas SHAPE AND REFORM INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AND remains a central principle of national security TRADE INSTITUTIONS The United States will continue to play a leading role in institutions such as the International Monetary Fund IMF World Bank and World Trade Organization WTO but will and economic prosperity and exploration of sea and space provides opportunities for commercial gain and scientific breakthroughs The flow of data 40 P I L L A R I V A DVA N C E A M E R I C A N I N F L U E N C E improve their performance through reforms These the law America's core principles enshrined in reforms include encouraging multilateral devel- the Declaration of Independence are secured by opment banks to invest in high-quality infrastruc- the Bill of Rights which proclaims our respect ture projects that promote economic growth We for fundamental individual liberties beginning will press to make the WTO a more effective forum with the freedoms of religion speech the press to adjudicate unfair trade practices and assembly Liberty free enterprise equal justice under the law and the dignity of every ENSURE COMMON DOMAINS REMAIN FREE human life are central to who The United States we a re a s a people will provide leadership and technology to shape and govern common domains--space For much of the world c yberspace a i r a nd m a r i- America's liberties are time--within the framework of inspirational and the United international law The United St ates suppor t s t he peace - States will always stand These principles form the found at ion of ou r most endu ring alliances and the United States will continue to champion them Governments that respect the rights of their cit- f u l r e s olut ion of d i s put e s with those who seek freedom izens remain the best vehi- under international law but We will remain a beacon cle for prosperity human hap- will use all of its instruments of power to defend U S interests and to ensure common of liberty and opportunity around the world governments that routinely abuse the rights of their citizens do not play constructive domains remain free roles in the world For example PROTECT A FREE AND OPEN I NTE R N E T piness and peace In contrast governments that fail to treat The United States women equally do not allow will advocate for open interoperable commu- their societies to reach their potential nications with minimal barriers to the global exchange of information and services The United No nation can unilaterally alleviate all human States will promote the free flow of data and pro- suffering but just because we cannot help every- tect its interests through active engagement in key one does not mean that we should stop trying organizations such as the Internet Corporation to help anyone For much of the world America's for Assigned Names and Numbers ICANN the liberties are inspirational and the United States Internet Governance Forum IGF the UN and the will always stand with those who seek free- International Telecommunication Union ITU dom We will remain a beacon of liberty and opportunity around the world The United States also remains committed to Champion American Values supporting and advancing religious freedom-- America's first freedom Our Founders under- The extraordinary trajectory of the United States stood religious freedom not as the state's creation from a group of colonies to a thriving industrial- but as the gift of God to every person and a funda- ized sovereign republic--the world's lone super- mental right for our flourishing society power--is a testimony to the strength of the idea on which our Nation is founded namely that And it is part of our culture as well as in America's each of our citizens is born free and equal under interest to help those in need and those trying to 41 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY build a better future for their families We aid others judiciously aligning our means to our objectives but with a firm belief that we can improve the lives of others while establishing conditions for a more secure and prosperous world PROTECT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES We will advocate on behalf of religious freedom and threatened minorities Religious minorities continue to be victims of violence We will place a priority on protecting these groups and will continue working with regional partners to protect minority communities from attacks and to preserve their cultural heritage Priority Actions We support with our words and actions those who live under oppressive regimes and who seek freedom individual dignity and the rule of law We are under no obligation to offer the benefits of our free and prosperous community to repressive regimes and human rights abusers We may use diplomacy sanctions and other tools to isolate states and leaders who threaten our interests and whose actions run contrary to our values We will not remain silent in the face of evil We will hold perpetrators of genocide and mass atrocities accountable SUPPORT THE DIGNITY OF INDIVIDUALS The United States will continue to lead the world in humanitarian assistance Even as we expect others to share responsibility the United States will continue to catalyze international responses to man-made and natural disasters and provide our expertise and capabilities to those in need We will support food security and health programs that save lives and address the root cause of hunger and disease We will support displaced people close to their homes to help meet their needs until they can safely and voluntarily return home REDUCE HUMAN SUFFERING DEFEAT TRANSNATIONAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS There can be no greater action to advance the rights of individuals than to defeat jihadist terrorists and other groups that foment hatred and use violence to advance their supremacist Islamist ideologies We will continue to join with other states to defeat this scourge of all civilized peoples Societ ies t hat empower women to participate fully in civic and economic life are more prosperous and peaceful We will support efforts to advance women's equality protect the rights of women and girls and promote women and youth empowerment programs E M P O W E R W O M E N A N D YO U T H 42 The Strategy in a Regional Context The United States must tailor our approaches to different regions of the world to protect U S national interests We require integrated regional strategies that appreciate the nature and magnitude of threats the intensity of competitions and the promise of available opportunities all in the context of local political economic social and historical realities C hanges in a regional balance of power can have global consequences and threaten U S interests Markets raw materials lines of communication and human capital are located within or move among key regions of the world China and Russia aspire to project power worldwide but they interact most with their neighbors North Korea and Iran also pose the greatest menace to those closest to them But as destructive weapons proliferate and regions become more interconnected threats become more difficult to contain And regional balances that shift against the United States could combine to threaten our security tors Terrorists and criminals thrive where governments are weak corruption is rampant and faith in government institutions is low Strategic competitors often exploit rather than discourage corruption and state weakness to extract resources and exploit their populations Regions afflicted by instability and weak governments also offer opportunities to improve security promote prosperity and restore hope Aspiring partner states across the developing world want to improve their societies build transparent and effective governments confront non-state threats and strengthen their sovereignty Many recognize the opportunities offered by market economies and political liberties and are eager for partnership with the United States and our allies The United States will encourage aspiring partners as they undertake reforms and pursue their aspirations States that prosper and nations that transition from recipients of development assistance to trading partners offer economic opportunities for American businesses And stability reduces threats that target Americans at home The United States must marshal the will and capabilities to compete and prevent unfavorable shifts in the Indo-Pacific Europe and the Middle East Sustaining favorable balances of power will require a strong commitment and close cooperation with allies and partners because allies and partners magnify U S power and extend U S influence They share our interests and responsibility for resisting authoritarian trends contesting radical ideologies and deterring aggression In other regions of the world instability and weak governance threaten U S interests Some governments are unable to maintain security and meet the basic needs of their people making their country and citizens vulnerable to preda- Indo-Pacific A geopolitical competition between free and repressive visions of world order is taking place in the Indo-Pacific region The region which stretches 45 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY from the west coast of India to the western shores eration of the world's most destructive weapons across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond of the United States represents the most populous and economically dynamic part of the world The U S allies are critical to responding to mutual threats such as North Korea and preserving our back to the earliest days of our republic mutual interests in the Indo-Pacific region Our alliance and friendship with South Korea forged Although the United States seeks to continue to by the trials of history is stroncooperate with China China ger than ever We welcome is using econom ic induceand support the strong leadments and penalties inf luership role of our critical ally ence operations and implied Sustaining favorable balances Japan Australia has fought military threats to persuade of power will require a alongside us in every signifother states to heed its political ica nt con f lict since World and security agenda China's strong commitment and close War I and continues to reininfrastructure investments cooperation with allies and force economic and security and trade strategies reinforce partners because allies and arrangements that support our its geopolitical aspirations partners magnify U S power shared interests and safeguard Its efforts to build and milidemo c rat ic va lue s ac ros s tarize outposts in the South and extend U S influence the region New Zealand is China Sea endanger the free a key U S partner contribflow of trade threaten the sovuting to peace and security ereignty of other nations and across the region We welcome undermine regional stabilIndia's emergence as a leading global power and ity China has mounted a rapid military modernstronger strategic and defense partner We will ization campaign designed to limit U S access to seek to increase quadrilateral cooperation with the region and provide China a freer hand there Japan Australia and India China presents its ambitions as mutually benU S interest in a free and open Indo-Pacific extends eficial but Chinese dominance risks diminish- In Southeast Asia the Philippines and Thailand r em a i n i mp or t a nt a l l ie s a n d m a rket s for Americans Vietnam Indonesia Malaysia and Singapore are growing security and economic partners of the United States The Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC remain centerpieces of the Indo-Pacific's regional architecture and platforms for promoting an order based on freedom ing the sovereignty of many states in the IndoPacific States throughout the region are calling for sustained U S leadership in a collective response that upholds a regional order respectful of sovereignty and independence In Northeast Asia the North Korean regime is rapidly accelerating its cyber nuclear and ballistic m issile progra ms Nor th Korea's pursuit of these weapons poses a global threat that requires a global response Continued provo- Priority Actions cations by North Korea will prompt neighboring countries and the United States to further POLITICAL Our vision for the Indo-Pacific excludes strengthen security bonds and take additional no nation We will redouble our commitment to established alliances and partnerships while expanding and deepening relationships with new measures to protect themselves And a nuclear-armed North Korea could lead to the prolif- 46 THE STRATEGY IN A REGIONAL CONTEXT partners that share respect for sovereignty fair and Taiwan Relations Act to provide for Taiwan's legit- reciprocal trade and the rule of law We will rein- imate defense needs and deter coercion We will force our commitment to freedom of the seas and expand our defense and security cooperation with the peaceful resolution of territorial and maritime India a Major Defense Partner of the United States disputes in accordance with international law and support India's growing relationships through- We will work with allies and partners to achieve out the region We will re-energize our alliances complete verifiable and irreversible denuclear- with the Philippines and Thailand and strengthen ization on the Korean Peninsula and preserve our pa rtnersh ips with Singapore Vietna m the non-proliferation regime in Northeast Asia Indonesia Malaysia and others to help them E CO N O M I C become cooperative maritime partners The United States will encourage regional cooperation to maintain free and open seaways transparent infrastructure financing Europe practices unimpeded commerce and the peaceful resolution of disputes We will pursue bilateral A strong and free Europe is of vital importance to trade agreements on a fair and reciprocal basis We the United States We are bound together by our will seek equal and reliable access for American shared commitment to the principles of democracy exports We will work with partners to build a net- individual liberty and the rule of law Together we work of states dedicated to free markets and pro- rebuilt Western Europe after World War II and cre- tected from forces that would subvert their sover- ated institutions that produced stability and wealth eignty We will strengthen cooperation with allies on both sides of the Atlantic Today Europe is one on high-quality infrastructure Working with of the most prosperous regions in the world and Australia and New Zealand we will shore up frag- our most significant trading partner ile partner states in the Pacific Islands region to reduce their vulnerability to economic f luctu- Although the menace of Soviet communism is ations and natural disasters gone new threats test our will Russia is using subversive measures to weaken the credibil- MILITARY AND SECURITY We will maintain a forward ity of America's commitment to Europe under- military presence capable of deterring and if nec- mine transatlantic unity and weaken European essary defeating any adversary We will strengthen institutions and governments With its inva- our long-standing military relationships and sions of Georgia and Ukraine Russia demon- encourage the development of a strong defense net- strated its willingness to violate the sovereignty work with our allies and partners For example of states in the region Russia continues to intim- we will cooperate on missile defense with Japan idate its neighbors with threatening behavior and South Korea to move toward an area defense such as nuclear posturing and the forward deploy- capability We remain ready to respond with over- ment of offensive capabilities whelming force to North Korean aggression and will improve options to compel denuclearization China is gaining a strategic foothold in Europe by of the peninsula We will improve law enforce- expanding its unfair trade practices and invest- ment defense and intelligence cooperation with ing in key industries sensitive technologies and Southeast Asian partners to address the growing infrastructure Europe also faces immediate terrorist threat We will maintain our strong ties threats from violent Islamist extremists Attacks with Taiwan in accordance with our One China by ISIS and other jihadist groups in Spain France policy including our commitments under the Germany Belgium the United Kingdom and 47 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY other countries show that our European partners continue to face serious threats Instability in the Middle East and Africa has triggered the movement of millions of migrants and refugees into Europe exacerbating instability and tensions in the region growth We will encourage European foreign direct investment in the United States to create jobs We will work with our allies and partners to diversify European energy sources to ensure the energy security of European countries We will work with our partners to contest China's unfair trade The United States is safer when Europe is prosperous and stable and can help defend our shared interests and ideals The United States remains firmly committed to our European allies and partners The NATO alliance of free and sovereign states is one of our great advantages over our competitors and the United States remains committed to Article V of the Washington Treaty and economic practices and restrict its acquisition of sensitive technologies MILITARY AN D SECU RIT Y The United States ful- fills our defense responsibilities and expects others to do the same We expect our European allies to increase defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product by 2024 with 20 percent of this spending devoted to increasing military capa- European allies and partners increase our strategic reach and provide access to forward basing and overflight rights for global operations Together we confront shared threats European nations are contributing thousands of troops to help fight jihadist terrorists in Afghanistan stabilize Iraq and fight terrorist organizations across Africa and the greater Middle East bilities On NATO's eastern f lank we will continue to strengthen deterrence and defense and catalyze frontline allies and partners' efforts to better defend themselves We will work with NATO to improve its integrated air and missile defense capabilities to counter existing and projected ballistic and cruise missile threats particularly from Iran We will increase counter- The NATO alliance will become stronger when all members assume greater responsibility for and pay their fair share to protect our mutual interests sovereignty and values terrorism and cybersecurity cooperation Middle East The United States seeks a Middle East that is Priority Actions not a safe haven or breeding ground for jihadist POLITICAL The United States will deepen collabora- terrorists not dominated by any power hostile to tion with our European allies and partners to confront forces threatening to undermine our common values security interests and shared vision The United States and Europe will work together to counter Russian subversion and aggression and the threats posed by North Korea and Iran We will continue to advance our shared principles and interests in international forums the United States and that contributes to a stable ECONOMIC The United States will work with the European Union and bilaterally with the United Kingdom and other states to ensure fair and reciprocal trade practices and eliminate barriers to insulate us from the region's problems We must global energy market For years the interconnected problems of Iranian expansion state collapse jihadist ideolog y socio-economic stagnation and regional rivalries have convulsed the Middle East The United States has learned that neither aspirations for democratic transformation nor disengagement can be realistic about our expectations for the region without allowing pessimism to obscure our interests or vision for a modern Middle East 48 THE STRATEGY IN A REGIONAL CONTEXT aging cooperation among partners in the region the United States can promote stability and a balance of power that favors U S interests The region remains home to the world's most dangerous terrorist organizations ISIS and al-Qa'ida thrive on instability and export violent jihad Iran the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism has taken advantage of instability to expand its influence through partners and proxies weapon proliferation and funding It continues to develop more capable ballistic missiles and intelligence capabilities and it undertakes malicious cyber activities These activities have continued unabated since the 2015 nuclear deal Iran continues to perpetuate the cycle of violence in the region causing grievous harm to civilian populations Rival states are filling vacuums created by state collapse and prolonged regional conf lict Priority Actions We will strengthen partnerships and form new ones to help advance security through stability Whenever possible we will encourage gradual reforms We will support efforts to counter violent ideologies and increase respect for the dignity of individuals We remain committed to helping our partners achieve a stable and prosperous region including through a strong and integrated Gulf Cooperation Council We will strengthen our long-term strategic partnership with Iraq as an Despite these challenges there are emerging independent state We will seek a settlement to the opportunities to advance American interests in Syrian civil war that sets the conditions for refuthe Middle East Some of our partners are working gees to return home and rebuild their lives in safety together to reject radical ideologies and key leadWe will work with partners to deny the Iranian ers are calling for a rejection of Islamist extremregime a ll paths to a nuclear ism and violence Encouraging weapon and neutralize Iranian political stability and sustainmalign inf luence We remain able prosperity would contribcommitted to helping facilitate Terrorists and criminals ute to dampening the conditions a comprehensive peace agreethat fuel sectarian grievances thrive where ment that is acceptable to both governments are weak For generat ion s t he c onIsraelis and Palestinians f l ic t bet ween Israel a nd t he corruption is rampant E C O N O M I C T he Un ited States Pa lestinians has been underand faith in government will support the reforms unders t o o d a s t h e pr i m e i r r it a nt institutions is low way that begin to address core pr e vent i n g p e a c e a n d pr o s inequities that jihadist terrorp er it y i n t he reg ion To d ay ists exploit We will encourage the threats from jihadist terstates in the region including ror ist orga n i zations a nd t he Egypt and Saudi Arabia to continue modernizthreat from Iran are creating the realization that ing their economies We will play a role in catalyzIsrael is not the cause of the region's problems ing positive developments by engaging economiStates have increasingly found common intercally supporting reformers and championing the ests with Israel in confronting common threats benefits of open markets and societies Today the United States has the opportunity to MILITARY AND SECURITY We will retain the necescatalyze greater economic and political cooperation that will expand prosperity for those who sary American military presence in the region to want to partner with us By revitalizing partnerprotect the United States and our allies from terships with reform-minded nations and encourrorist attacks and preserve a favorable regional POLITICAL 49 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY Priority Actions balance of power We will assist regional partners in strengthening their institutions and capabilities including in law enforcement to conduct counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts We will help partners procure interoperable missile defense and other capabilities to better defend against active missile threats We will work with partners to neutralize Iran's malign activities in the region We will deepen our strategic partnership with India and support its leadership role in Indian Ocean security and throughout the broader region We will press Pakistan to intensify its counterterrorism efforts since no partnership can survive a country's support for militants and terrorists who target a partner's own service members and officials The United States will also encourage Pakistan to continue demonstrating that it is a responsible steward of its nuclear assets We will continue to partner with Afghanistan to promote peace and security in the region We will continue to promote anti-corruption reform in Afghanistan to increase the legitimacy of its government and reduce the appeal of violent extremist organizations We will help South Asian nations maintain their sovereignty as China increases its inf luence in the region POLITICAL South and Central Asia With over a quarter of the world's population a fifth of all U S -designated terrorist groups several fast-growing economies and two nuclear-armed states South and Central Asia present some of the most complicated national security challenges and opportunities The region spans the terrorist threats emanating from the Middle East and the competition for power unfolding in Europe and the Indo-Pacific The United States continues to face threats from transnational terrorists and militants operating from within Pakistan The prospect for an Indo-Pakistani military conflict that could lead to a nuclear exchange remains a key concern requiring consistent diplomatic attention We will encourage the economic integration of Central and South Asia to promote prosperity and economic linkages that will bolster connectivity and trade And we will encourage India to increase its economic assistance in the region In Pakistan we will build trade and investment ties as security improves and as Pakistan demonstrates that it will assist the United States in our counterterrorism goals ECONOMIC U S interests in the region include countering terrorist threats that impact the security of the U S homeland and our allies preventing cross-border terrorism that raises the prospect of military and nuclear tensions and preventing nuclear weapons technology and materials from falling into the hands of terrorists We seek an American presence in the region proportionate to threats to the homeland and our allies We seek a Pakistan that is not engaged in destabilizing behavior and a stable and self-reliant Afghanistan And we seek Central Asian states that are resilient against domination by rival powers are resistant to becoming jihadist safe havens and prioritize reforms We are committed to supporting the Afghan government and security forces in their fight against the Taliban al-Qa'ida ISIS and other terrorists We will bolster the fighting strength of the Afghan security forces to convince the Taliban that they cannot win on the battlefield and to set the conditions for diplomatic efforts to achieve enduring peace We will insist that Pakistan take decisive action against militant and terrorist groups operating from its soil We will work with the Central Asian states to guarantee access to the region to support our counterterrorism efforts M I L I TA R Y A N D S E C U R I T Y 50 THE STRATEGY IN A REGIONAL CONTEXT Western Hemisphere tions with key countries in the region Together we will build a stable and peaceful hemisphere that increases economic opportunities for all improves governance reduces the power of criminal organizations and limits the malign inf luence of non-hemispheric forces Stable friendly and prosperous states in the Western Hemisphere enhance our security and benefit our economy Democratic states connected by shared values and economic interests will reduce the violence drug trafficking and illegal immigration that threaten our common security and will limit opportunities for adversaries to operate from areas of close proximity to us Priority Actions POLITICAL We will catalyze regional efforts to build security and prosperity through strong diplomatic engagement We will isolate governments that refuse to act as responsible partners in advancing hemispheric peace and prosperity We look forward to the day when the people of Cuba and Venezuela can enjoy freedom and the benefits of shared prosperity and we encourage other free states in the hemisphere to support this shared endeavor In the last half century parts of this hemisphere were marred by dictatorships and insurgencies that killed tens of thousands of people Today this region stands on the cusp of prosperity and peace built upon democracy and the rule of law U S trade in the region is thriving and market opportunities for American goods and services energy and infrastructure projects and foreign direct investment continue to expand We will modernize our trade agreements and deepen our economic ties with the region and ensure that trade is fair and reciprocal We will encourage further market-based economic reforms and encourage transparency to create conditions for sustained prosperity We will ensure the U S financial system does not serve as a haven or transit point for criminal proceeds ECONOMIC Challenges remain however Transnational criminal organizations--including gangs and cartels-- perpetuate violence and corruption and threaten the stability of Central American states including Guatemala Honduras and El Salvador In Venezuela and Cuba governments cling to anachronistic leftist authoritarian models that continue to fail their people Competitors have found operating space in the hem isphere MILITARY AND SECURITY We will build upon local efforts and encourage cultures of lawfulness to reduce crime and corruption including by supporting local efforts to professionalize police and other security forces strengthen the rule of law and undertake judicial reform and improve information sharing to target criminals and corrupt leaders and disrupt illicit trafficking China seeks to pull the region into its orbit through state-led investments and loans Russia continues its failed politics of the Cold War by bolstering its radical Cuban allies as Cuba continues to repress its citizens Both China and Russia support the dictatorship in Venezuela and are seeking to expand military linkages and arms sales across the region The hemisphere's democratic states have a shared interest in confronting threats to their sovereignty Canada and the United States share a unique strategic and defense partnership The United States also has important and deepening rela- 51 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY Africa tices undermine Africa's long-term development by corrupting elites dominating extractive industries and locking countries into unsustainable and opaque debts and commitments Africa remains a continent of promise and enduring challenges Africa contains many of the world's fastest growing economies which represent potential new markets for U S goods and services Aspiring partners across the continent are eager to build market-based economies and enhance stability The demand for quality American exports is high and will likely grow as Africa's population and prosperity increase People across the continent are demanding government accountability and less corruption and are opposing autocratic trends The number of stable African nations has grown since the independence era as numerous countries have emerged from devastating conflicts and undergone democratic transitions The United States seeks sovereign African states that are integrated into the world economy able to provide for their citizens' needs and capable of managing threats to peace and security Improved governance in these states supports economic development and opportunities diminishes the attraction of illegal migration and reduces vulnerability to extremists thereby reducing instability Priority Actions The United States will partner with governments civil society and regional organiDespite this progress many states face political zations to end long-running violent conf licts turbulence and instability that spills into other We will encourage reform working with promregions Corruption and weak governance threaten ising nations to promote effective governance to undermine the political improve the rule of law and benefits that should emerge develop institutions accountfrom new economic opportuable and responsive to citnities Many African states izens We will continue to We will encourage reform are battlegrounds for viorespond to hu ma n it a r ia n working with promising nations lent extremism and jihadneeds wh ile a lso work ing ist terrorists ISIS al-Qa'ida to promote effective governance with committed governments a nd t hei r a f f i l iates operand regional organizations improve the rule of law and ate on t he c ont i nent a nd to address the root causes of develop institutions accountable have increased the letha lhuman suffering If necesity of their attacks expanded and responsive to citizens sary we are prepared to sancinto new areas and targeted tion gover n ment off icia ls U S citizens and interests and institutions that prey African nations and regional on their citizens and comorganizations have demonmit atrocities When there is strated a commitment to confront the threat no alternative we will suspend aid rather than from jihadist terrorist organizations but their see it exploited by corrupt elites secu r it y capabi l it ies rem a i n wea k ECONOMIC We will expand trade and commercial China is expanding its economic and military ties to create jobs and build wealth for Americans presence in Africa growing from a small invesand Africans We will work with reform-oriented tor in the continent two decades ago into Africa's governments to help establish conditions that can largest trading partner today Some Chinese practransform them into trading partners and improve POLITICAL 52 THE STRATEGY IN A REGIONAL CONTEXT their business environment We will support economic integration among African states We will work with nations that seek to move beyond assistance to partnerships that promote prosperity We will offer American goods and services both because it is profitable for us and because it serves as an alternative to China's often extractive economic footprint on the continent MILITARY AND SECURITY We will continue to work with partners to improve the ability of their security services to counter terrorism human trafficking and the illegal trade in arms and natural resources We will work with partners to defeat terrorist organizations and others who threaten U S citizens and the homeland 53 Conclusion This National Security Strategy sets a positive strategic direction for the United States that is meant to reassert America's advantages on the world stage and to build upon our country's great strengths During the Trump Administration the American people can be confident that their security and prosperity will always come first A secure prosperous and free America will be strong and ready to lead abroad to protect our interests and our way of life A merica's renewed strategic confidence is anchored in our recommitment to the principles inscribed in our found- ing American principles spreads peace and prosperity around the globe We are guided by our values and disciplined by our interests ing documents The National Security Strategy This Administration has a bright vision of America's future America's values and inf luence underwritten by American power make the world more free secure and prosperous celebrates and protects what we hold dear-- individual liberty the rule of law a democratic system of government tolerance and opportunity for all By knowing ourselves and what we stand Our Nation derives its strength from the American people Every American has a role to play in this grand national effort to implement this America First National Security Strategy Together our task is to strengthen our families to build up our communities to serve our citizens and to celebrate American greatness as a shining example to the world We will leave our children and grandchildren a Nation that is stronger better freer prouder and greater than ever before for we clarify what we must defend and we establish guiding principles for our actions T h is strateg y is g u ided by pr incipled rea lism It is realist because it acknowledges the centra l role of power in internationa l politics affirms that sovereign states are the best hope for a peaceful world and clearly defines our national interests It is principled because it is grounded in the knowledge that advanc- 55 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY Notes 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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 56 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu