I (Re) Read the 2026 Defense Strategy So You Don't Have To

It’s a video this week! The Department of Defense is now the Department of War.Open the 2026 National Defense Strategy, and that’s what you’ll see. A Memo signed by the Secretary of War. I read the whole thing, so you don’t have to.Some called the focus on the Western Hemisphere “isolationism.” Foreign policy wonks warned about abandoning allies and ceding global leadership.Here’s what actually happened in the past year:* Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER — we struck Iran’s nuclear program* Operation EPIC FURY — sustained combat against Iranian forces across multiple theaters* Operation ABSOLUTE RESOLVE — direct action in VenezuelaThis Document Is DifferentNational Defense Strategies are usually boring. Written by committee. Staffed through interagency meetings. The goal is consensus, to make sure everyone from the Department of State to NATO can sign off.The 2022 version was exactly that. It called China a “pacing challenge.” Iran got mentioned in one section. The 2026 version?It calls out “grandiose nation-building.” It names previous administrations for squandering our advantages. It calls China the second most powerful country in the world and lists Iran’s Axis of Resistance by name — Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the IRGC.What It Means for the BudgetThe National Defense Strategy drives the budget. If it’s in the NDS, it gets funded.So when this document says:* Defend the Homeland (top priority)* Deter China in the First Island Chain* Allies take primary responsibility for their own regions* Rebuild the defense industrial baseYou can expect:* Hypersonics and long-range strike systems* Missile defense — the document calls for “Golden Dome for America.”* Autonomous systems and AI — Anduril, Palantir, software-driven warfare* Munitions production at scaleWhat gets cut? Legacy platforms. Europe-heavy force posture. Anything optimized for the old counterinsurgency fight.Where We Actually AreThis is a strategy that says we’ll defend American interests with overwhelming force when necessary. The tone shift from 2022 to 2026 isn’t purely partisan. It’s a significant doctrinal shift in national policy. Whether you think that’s good or bad, you should at least know what the document actually says. Because most people don’t.MTFBWY, -RileyAdheres to AFI 1-1, USAF Social Media PolicyViews expressed in this video are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Air Force or Department of Defense. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit watchtowerintel.substack.com