Sec. 1263. Report on progress of the Department of Defense with respect to denying a fait accompli by a strategic competitor against a covered defense partner
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In this section: The term covered defense partner means a partner identified in the Department of Defense Indo-Pacific Strategy Report issued on June 1, 2019, located within 100 miles off the coast of a strategic competitor. The term fait accompli means the strategy of a strategic competitor designed to allow such strategic competitor to use military force to seize control of a covered defense partner before the United States Armed Forces are able to respond effectively. The term strategic competitor means a country labeled as a strategic competitor in the Summary of the 2018 National Defense Strategy of the United States of America:
Sharpening the American Military’s Competitive Edge issued by the Department of Defense pursuant to section 113 of title 10, United States Code. Not later than April 30 each year, beginning in 2021 and ending in 2026, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the progress of the Department of Defense with respect to improving the ability of the United States Armed Forces to conduct combined joint operations to deny the ability of a strategic competitor to execute a fait accompli against a covered defense partner.
Each report under paragraph
(1)shall include the following: An explanation of the objectives for the United States Armed Forces that would be necessary to deny the fait accompli by a strategic competitor against a covered defense partner. An identification of joint warfighting capabilities and current efforts to organize, train, and equip the United States Armed Forces in support of the objectives referred to in paragraph (1), including— an assessment of whether the programs included in the most recent future-years defense program submitted to Congress under section 221 of title 10, United States Code, are sufficient to enable the United States Armed Forces to conduct joint combined operations to achieve such objectives; a description of additional investments or force posture adjustments required to maintain or improve the ability of the United States Armed Forces to conduct joint combined operations to achieve such objectives; a description of the manner in which the Secretary of Defense intends to develop and integrate Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force operational concepts to maintain or improve the ability of the United States Armed Forces to conduct joint combined operations to achieve such objectives; and an assessment of the manner in which different options for pre-delegating authorities may improve the ability of the United States Armed Forces to conduct joint combined operations to achieve such objectives. An assessment of options for deterring limited use of nuclear weapons by a strategic competitor in the Indo-Pacific region without undermining the ability of the United States Armed Forces to maintain deterrence against other strategic competitors and adversaries. An assessment of a strategic competitor theory of victory for invading and unifying a covered defense partner with such a strategic competitor by military force. A description of the military objectives a strategic competitor would need to achieve in a covered defense partner campaign. A description of the military missions a strategic competitor would need to execute a covered defense partner invasion campaign, including— blockade and bombing operations; amphibious landing operations; and combat operations. An assessment of competing demands on a strategic competitor’s resources and how such demands impact such a strategic competitor’s ability to achieve its objectives in a covered defense partner campaign. An assessment of a covered defense partner’s self-defense capability and a summary of defense articles and services that are required to enhance such capability. An assessment of the capabilities of partner and allied countries to conduct combined operations with the United States Armed Forces in a regional contingency. Each report under paragraph
(1)shall be submitted in classified form but may include an unclassified executive summary.