The development and implementation of policies designed to protect a country from external threats.
National Security Strategy: The overarching plans and policies adopted by a government to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens and interests.
Threat analysis and intelligence: Methods to identify and assess external and internal threats, ranging from traditional military threats to those posed by unconventional actors, such as terrorists or cyber criminals.
Military capabilities: The strengths and weaknesses of a country's military apparatus, including its hardware, personnel, logistics, and training.
Nuclear and missile technologies: Understanding the science behind these weapons, as well as their use and proliferation, both as a strategic deterrent and tool of offense.
Arms control and disarmament: Efforts to control the spread of weapons of mass destruction and to reduce existing stockpiles through treaties, verification mechanisms, and diplomacy.
Homeland security: Measures to protect the domestic population and territory from threats such as terrorism, natural disasters, and cyber attacks.
Cybersecurity: The protection of computer systems, networks, and information from unauthorized access, hacking, or other forms of damage or disruption.
Counterterrorism: Strategies and tactics used to prevent, detect, and respond to terrorist threats and attacks, including intelligence gathering, law enforcement, and military action.
Regional security issues: Understanding the complex dynamics of specific regions and their security challenges, such as the Middle East, East Asia, or Africa.
Human security: The protection of individuals from harm and abuse, including issues such as humanitarian intervention, civilian protection, and human rights.
Strategic communication: The use of communication tools and techniques to advance national security goals, including public diplomacy, propaganda, and psychological operations.
Military doctrine: The foundational principles and concepts that guide military planning and operations, including the role of force in achieving strategic objectives.
Defense procurement: The process by which military hardware and technology is acquired and managed, including weapons, vehicles, and communication systems.
International relations: The study of how nations interact with each other, including diplomacy, alliances, and conflict resolution.
Economic security: Ensuring the stability and resilience of the country's economy, through measures such as trade policy, sanctions, and financial regulations.
Geopolitics: Understanding the relationship between geography, power, and national security, including the impact of resources, borders, and strategic chokepoints.
Intelligence agencies: The structure, role, and operations of security and intelligence agencies, including the collection of information, analysis, and dissemination.
Peace negotiations: The process of resolving and preventing conflict through diplomatic negotiations, mediation, and peacekeeping.
Military ethics: The study of ethical principles and codes of conduct governing the behavior of military personnel and commanders in times of war and peace.
National defense strategy: A comprehensive plan to meet the nation's security needs, identifying threats and allocating resources to achieve strategic objectives.
Military Strategy: The use of the military to protect and advance national interests is an important aspect of national security policy. Military strategy involves making decisions about how, when, and why to use military force.
Nuclear Deterrence: Nuclear deterrence involves the threat of using nuclear weapons to deter an opponent from taking hostile action. This type of national security policy has been a cornerstone of the U.S. defense posture since the end of World War II.
Cybersecurity: In the age of information, national security policy has come to include measures to protect critical infrastructure, such as the electrical grid, from cyber attacks. Cybersecurity policy includes both defensive and offensive capabilities.
Counterterrorism: Terrorism is a significant threat to national security, and counterterrorism policy is designed to prevent terrorist attacks and respond to them when they occur. This includes gathering intelligence, disrupting terrorist networks, and tracking down and apprehending terrorists.
Intelligence: Gathering intelligence is a critical aspect of national security policy. Intelligence agencies work to collect and analyze information about other countries and potential threats to national security.
Economic Security: Economic security is essential to national security. National security policy can involve protecting key industries, promoting economic growth, and preventing economic espionage.
Diplomacy: Diplomacy is a key tool in national security policy. It involves building relationships with other countries and engaging in negotiations to resolve disputes peacefully.
Arms Control: Arms control policy involves regulating the production, deployment, and use of weapons. This can include agreements to reduce nuclear weapons stockpiles or limiting the spread of conventional weapons.