The current National Security Strategy focuses on setting the terms of the geostrategic competition between America and other major powers, notably China and Russia.

According to the National Defense Strategy, which directs how the Department of Defense will pursue the goals set out in the National Security Strategy, the key to successfully competing is to achieve integrated deterrence.

Perhaps the most critical element of integrated deterrence is shaping the security environment in peacetime. As the history of U.S. security actions shows, the overwhelming majority of military operations occur in peacetime.