Threats & Challenges

The core objective of national strategy is to ensure the survival and prosperity of the nation-in the words of the Declaration of Independence, "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." A Soviet threat of nuclear devastation has receded into the background. Now the nation faces more diffuse threats including Islamic radicalism, a rise of autocratic governments, fragmenting alliances, global refugee flows, cyber intrusions, and expanding military technologies. At the same time, robotics, artificial intelligence, and global warming all challenge a United States that is no longer the preeminent global economic power. Balancing responses to all these requires comprehensive evaluations.