Pentagon strategy prioritizes homeland over confronting China
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The Pentagon is poised to shift its defense priorities away from countering China and toward securing the United States homeland and Western Hemisphere.
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Military personnel march past Tiananmen Gate as they take part in a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender, in Beijing, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
The Pentagon is reportedly preparing a major overhaul of its military priorities, placing homeland security and Western Hemisphere operations above its longstanding focus on countering China and Russia, according to Politico, citing early drafts of the upcoming National Defense Strategy.
The document, now on the desk of US War Secretary Pete Hegseth, marks a significant departure from the posture adopted during previous administrations, including former President Donald Trump's first term. Three individuals briefed on the draft described it as a dramatic shift in direction.
“This is going to be a major shift for the US and its allies on multiple continents,” one source familiar with the plan told Politico. “The old, trusted US promises are being questioned.”
Although the strategy has yet to be finalized, signs of the shift are already visible. Thousands of National Guard troops have been activated to assist law enforcement in cities such as Los Angeles and Washington.
Read more: Trump renames Pentagon as 'Department of War' in executive order
Additionally, warships and F-35 fighter jets have been deployed to the Caribbean to support what the US is declaring to be anti-drug operations amid increased tensions with Venezuela.
This week, a US military strike reportedly killed 11 alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang in international waters, a controversial move that blurs the line between combat and law enforcement.
Venezuela's Information Minister Freddy Nanez said about the operation targeting the boat that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was misleading the US president by presenting him with a fabricated video of the operation, alleging the video was created using artificial intelligence.
The Pentagon has also established a militarized zone along the southern border with Mexico, authorizing troops to detain civilians, a task traditionally handled by civilian agencies.
Colby leads strategy with isolationist vision
The effort to reshape US defense priorities is being led by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s current policy chief and a central figure behind the 2018 National Defense Strategy. Although previously known as a China hawk, Colby now supports a more isolationist approach, aligning with Vice President JD Vance’s calls to reduce foreign military commitments.
Despite his past views, Colby’s strategy team is also responsible for two upcoming reviews: a global posture review and a theater air and missile defense review. Both are expected to be released in the coming weeks and are likely to echo the same emphasis on consolidating US efforts closer to home.
Allies concerned over US global military posture
The anticipated shift has alarmed several United States allies, particularly in Europe, who fear the reallocation of American military resources could undermine regional security.
One example is the likely defunding of the Baltic Security Initiative, which channels hundreds of millions of dollars annually to Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to bolster their defense capabilities. A European diplomat confirmed that funding cuts are imminent, raising concerns over the region’s preparedness.
NATO officials also expect a gradual drawdown of some of the 80,000 U.S. troops currently stationed in Europe. However, the process remains fluid and subject to decisions from the White House.
During a visit by Poland’s president, Trump promised not to withdraw troops from the country, while hinting at possible reductions elsewhere on the continent.
“If anything, we’ll put more there,” Trump said, referring to Poland.
