The United States Department of Defense presented its latest National Defense Strategy on January 23, 2026
In this document, the main focus has shifted: now, protecting the homeland and American interests in the Western Hemisphere appears as the number one priority, even surpassing the confrontation with China.
According to the 34-page report, the Pentagon prioritizes the security of the United States’ land and sea borders, the defense of national airspace, and ensuring that the country maintains free and secure access to important strategic areas.
These include the Panama Canal, the Gulf of Mexico (often referred to as the Gulf of America in strategic contexts), and Greenland.
Containing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region, which for years was considered the central challenge, has moved to second place in this new approach.
This change represents a clear reorientation of American defense policy, with greater emphasis on protecting the United States’ “backyard” and reducing vulnerabilities near national territory.
The strategy also highlights the importance of allies assuming greater responsibility for their own security, including neighboring countries in the Western Hemisphere, such as Canada and Mexico, as well as European partners.
The goal is to strengthen the United States’ position in its own region, without relinquishing its presence in other parts of the world, but by reorganizing priorities to put the defense of the American continent in the foreground.
This new guideline reflects a vision more focused on immediate national security interests and the reaffirmation of American influence in the Western Hemisphere, at a time of increasing global tensions.
Published in 01/24/2026 10h22
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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