Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction is a document from the U.S. Department of Defense

The 2023 Department of Defense (DoD) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Strategy delineates the Department’s directives and approach toward tackling the pursuit, development, and deployment of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Aligned with the integrated deterrence framework outlined in the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS), this Strategy addresses current and projected security landscapes, emphasizing the significant challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation.

Recognizing the evolving capabilities of both the PRC and Russia in procuring, developing, and deploying WMD, the Strategy marks a departure from the previous DoD CWMD Strategy of 2014, which primarily focused on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations. This updated approach acknowledges the need to manage risks from hostile, fragile, or failed states and safe havens while addressing the escalating threats posed by major nation-state actors.

Publication Date– 2023

Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction contains the following major sections:

  • Executive Summary
  • Introduction
  • Security Environment
  • Linkage to the National Defense Strategy
  • Strategic Approach (Ways and Means)
  • Conclusion

This publicly available document has no distribution limitations. A link to the document is below.

Post Image- U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Wesley Clayton, a 354th Civil Engineering Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician, sets up an access shot on a simulated pipe bomb during an exercise on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, March 11, 2022. EOD technicians are trained to detect, disarm, and dispose of explosive threats in extreme environments. (Image Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jose Miguel T. Tamondong)