Key Takeaways from the 2023 National Intelligence Strategy
Last week, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines released the 2023 National Intelligence Strategy, a foundational document meant to guide intelligence strategy and focus the intelligence community’s (IC) 18 different agencies and organizations on a common agenda over the next four years. In it, Director Haines breaks down six distinct lines of effort which she says “have emerged as our understanding of the kinds of information, technology, and relationships needed to be effective in the future has expanded.”
In many ways, the six goals are a substantiation of the priorities we’ve seen reflected in military and intelligence rhetoric over the past several months. The strategy takes aim at China and Russia as it contends with “Intensifying Global Strategic Competition,” goal one of the new strategy. “The [People’s Republic of China] PRC is the only U.S. competitor with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do so,” the document reads, acknowledging that, while Russia poses a significant regional threat to stability in Europe and Eurasia, China remains the community’s primary focus.
The 2023 strategy puts a great deal of emphasis on the strengthening and expansion of partnerships, both traditional (nation state, government, etc.) and non-traditional (sub-national, non-state, industry, etc.). In goal four, the document acknowledges that “Our [the IC’s] ability to leverage and work in concert with a broad set of partners enhances our operational capabilities, sharpens our insights, and strengthens the foundation for strategic relationships and common action between our governments.” It charges IC members to deepen relationships with non-state actors who may have valuable expertise which can be brought to bear in pursuit of intelligence objectives.
Goal five, “Deliver Interoperable and Innovative Solutions at Scale,” is further acknowledgement by the IC that continued innovation is essential to our safety and security. “In response to changing mission needs,” it says, “the IC will foster a culture that embraces innovation and the application of tools, data, processes, and standards necessary to transform labor- and time-intensive work into more efficient and productive human-machine partnerships.”
Reception from both intelligence professionals and lawmakers has been largely positive. "The National Intelligence Strategy appropriately organizes the Intelligence Community around seminal challenges: a rising China, Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, and the opportunities and complexities presented by emerging technologies like AI [artificial intelligence]," said Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner.
“Together, we are developing capacity, capability, and resiliency to meet the pacing challenges of our nation and partners,” said General Paul Nakasone, director of the National Security Agency. “The 2023 National Intelligence Strategy is geared toward making this process a robust reality.”
In our view, the strategy is clear-eyed about the national and transnational threats that lay ahead and recognizes that the path forward is paved by people, partnerships, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to innovation. The future of American security and prosperity depends on close cooperation between governments, yes, but also between government and industry. This intelligence strategy is an invitation from the U.S. government: we are ready to push American innovation forward, our Mission depends on it.
