Pentagon's 2026 National Defense Strategy Shifts Ukraine Burden to Europe, Labels Russia 'Manageable'

The 2026 NDS reframes Russia as a 'persistent but manageable threat' and explicitly states Ukraine support 'will require leadership and commitment from our NATO allies' with U.S. involvement 'critical but more limited.' The strategy elevates homeland defense and Western Hemisphere priorities while demanding increased allied burden-sharing. Congress pushes back: the 2026 NDAA signals that lawmakers still prioritize Russia as a primary security threat and maintain strong pro-NATO positions.