According to Mattis, the fight against terrorism will continue, “but Great Power competition, not terrorism, is now the primary focus of U.S. national security,” which means a readjustment of the approach since the attacks of September 11, 2001. In line with the National Security Strategy of December 2017, Russia and China are identified as the main threats to the U.S. On a second level, are the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Iran, and the most dangerous non-state actor is identified as the Islamic State.

The document notes, “The 2018 National Defense Strategy underpins our planned fiscal year 2019-2023 budgets, accelerating our modernization programs and devoting additional resources in a sustained effort to solidify our competitive advantage.” In this sense, the U.S. will prioritize nuclear modernization, and investments in cyber and missile defense.

This the first time, in more than 15 years, that the U.S. has explicitly stated its interest in increasing military spending to maintain superiority over Russia and China, and consolidate its global hegemony. During this period, international terrorism served as the pretext for the strengthening of U.S. military forces, since after the fall of the Soviet Union and the socialist camp, the supposed threat that led the United States to exponentially increase its military budget after WWII, to the benefit of influential corporations, disappeared.

The language used recalls the Cold War era East-West conflict. The greatest exponent of the arms race was President Ronald Reagan, who in 1983 publicly launched the Strategic Defense Initiative, in which the scientific community was asked to develop a missile defense system to guarantee the protection of U.S. territory against a nuclear attack. It was also known as “Star Wars,” like the famous film of the time. As was shown that on that occasion, the only winner was “the Military-Industrial Complex.”

The current Strategy also reaffirms that the use of force will be applied as a foreign policy principle: “Reinforcing America’s traditional tools of diplomacy, the Department provides military options to ensure the President and our diplomats negotiate from a position of strength.” In addition, it is noted that states are the main actors on the global scene, but that non-state actors, such as terrorists, transnational criminal organizations, and hackers, “also threaten the security environment with increasingly sophisticated capabilities.”

The document emphasizes that the new strategy “articulates our strategy to compete, deter, and win” in this increasingly complex environment, stressing, “The costs of not implementing this strategy are clear. Failure to meet our defense objectives will result in decreasing U.S. global influence, eroding cohesion among allies and partners, and reduced access to markets that will contribute to a decline in our prosperity and standard of living.”

It is noted: “A long-term strategic competition requires the seamless integration of multiple elements of national power – diplomacy, information, economics, finance, intelligence, law enforcement, and military,” continuing: “More than any other nation, America can expand the competitive space, seizing the initiative to challenge our competitors where we possess advantages and they lack strength.” At the same time, it is claimed the U.S. “is open to opportunities for cooperation but from a position of strength and based on our national interests.”

Latin America and the Caribbean are mentioned only twice, referring to the Western Hemisphere, and unlike the Strategy of December 2017, no specific country of the region is mentioned. The objectives of the Strategy include “maintaining favorable regional balances of power in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and the Western Hemisphere.”

As outlined, the U.S. will deepen its relations with Latin American and Caribbean countries that “contribute military capabilities to shared regional and global security challenges.” The document also notes, “The U.S. derives immense benefit from a stable, peaceful hemisphere that reduces security threats to the homeland.”

Although not recognized in the Strategy, it is worth mentioning that Latin America and the Caribbean is the most densely populated area in the world, and that more than half a century ago, it was declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone, through the Treaty of Tlatelolco. Last month marked four years since the 33 member countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), meeting at their Second Summit, in Havana January 28-29, 2014, declared “Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.”

This is the “civilized” world of the 21st century – some proclaim peace while others enact war. The Pentagon has revealed it is committed to building “a more lethal force,” in clear defiance of international peace, and to justify its 700 billion dollar military budget for 2018.

The Strategy defends President Donald Trump’s nationalist electoral platform of “America first,” which combines diplomatic isolationism and economic protectionism, with military reinforcement and the denial of the threat of climate change. A “novel” formula to try to maintain global hegemony, and another “good deal” for the Military-Industrial Complex.

2016 NATO spending by country with percentage of total

In millions of dollars

U.S.              72.36% – $664.058

UK                   6.5% – $60.347

France             4.7% – $43.620

Germany          4.4% – $40.663

Italy                 2.3% – $21.878

Canada             1.6% – $15.395

Turkey             1.2% – $11.573

Spain               1.2% – $11.064

Others             5.4% – $49.698

(Granma)

Just a few minutes after daybreak, in Cabañas Bay on the island’s northwestern coast, the calm was broken with noise and dust as troops responded to a supposed aerial and maritime invasion, all intent upon victory, in a maneuver that filled those responsible for the country’s defense with pride.

Nineteen-year-old Orlando Luis Sánchez Díaz, head of an anti-aircraft missile squad, echoed this pride and described the exercise as a “unique experience,” and “an honor to be able to demonstrate how, under fire, our anti-aircraft reacts when faced with a blow by the enemy.”

Navy Lieutenant Alina Bea Ledesma, head of the anti-aircraft company described the exercise as a success, noting “the cohesion of the forces and the preparation,” explaining that it had been the result of a years’ training.

(Granma)

In accordance with our doctrine of “War by the Entire People,” its fundamental objective is to increase the degree of preparation and cohesion of our leadership bodies and commands at all levels, with troops, the economy, and the population.

On this occasion, the exercise will be conducted almost a month and a half after Hurricane Matthew caused significant damage in the province of Guantánamo, which motivated my decision to exempt leadership bodies and commands there, so that they can concentrate efforts on the recovery stage.

One necessity which we cannot disregard is assuring that these activities are conducted with the greatest efficiency and rationality – guided by the principle that the revolutionary watch is never neglected and in the interest of continuing to strengthen our defensive capacity.

I ORDER: INITIATE THE STRATEGIC EXERCISE BASTION 2016

Nothing is more important in the defense of the homeland than preparation. It is synonymous with avoiding war, which will be evident across the entire national territory – except Guantánamo – beginning today through Friday the 18th, with the realization of the Strategic Exercise Bastion 2016.

Bastion reflects the legacy of our richest traditions of struggle and the study of Cuban military arts; it bears all the spirit of resistance, heroism, and rebellion, since the independence wars of the 19th century. Based as well as on unwavering confidence in victory, which was evidenced during the final stage of the struggle for our definitive independence led by Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro Ruz, and of which Cuban men and women have been the protagonists for more than 50 victorious years.

Participating in Bastión 2016 are leadership bodies, and commands, coordinated by different levels of the Party, the government, central state administrative bodies, enterprises, and units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, and the population.

The exercise will allow us to consolidate the concept of “War by the Entire People,” and at the same time will reflect a step up in efforts to strengthen the homeland’s military invulnerability. It will demonstrate the efficiency, condition, and modernization of combat techniques, and is an inseparable part of the ‘Cuba is ours’ campaign, which is mobilizing the country and the world against the U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade of our country.

It will also allow for the appreciation of what has been accomplished and some fine-tuning in terms of the country’s defense leadership, regarding both the armed and unarmed struggle. During Bastion 2016, some of the actions will be directed and conducted by young officers of the FAR.

Following the conclusion of the exercise, the 19 and 20th, the National Defense Days will be held, during which there will be maneuvers and tactical exercises with troops.

(Granma)

Objectives include the training of leadership bodies and command staff in different entities responsible for the nation’s defense; and the organization of work to keep the population and troops prepared to respond to different enemy actions.

During Bastion 2016 and National Defense Days (19-20), maneuvers and tactical exercises will take place with the participation of Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) units, the Ministry of the Interior, and other components of the defense system, including the movement of troops, materiel, aviation, and explosives in the cases where this may be required.

The Strategic Exercise “Bastión 2016″ constitutes a fundamental element of the implementation of the doctrine of War by the Entire People.

Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces

(Granma)