Publication

This brief looks at the new defense strategic guidance "Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for the 21st Century" released in 2013. The author argues that the Department of Defense is entering a period of acute and potentially protracted fiscal uncertainty. The new strategic guidance prioritizes air and sea power and shifts focus to the Asia-Pacific region. However, strategy is reflected in the real decisions the Department makes. The FY 2013 budget request will therefore serve as a test of whether the Pentagon’s decisions are consistent with its rhetoric.