James Mattis: National Defense Strategy Seeks to Address Threats From Three Angles

Defense Secretary James Mattis has said the Pentagon developed the National Defense Strategy by assessing threats from the angles of power, will and urgency, Defense.gov reported Wednesday.

“In terms of raw power right now, I look at Russia and the nuclear arsenal they have,” Mattis said Tuesday during a discussion at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington.

He said the Defense Department considers North Korea’s nuclear missile program and violent extremism as the two most “urgent” threats.

“In terms of will, clearly it is China,” he noted.

Mattis cited the country’s efforts to cooperate with China and further build up its partnership with allies in support of the strategy.

He offered updates on the South Asia Strategy launched in 2017 and its implications for Afghan forces.