Abstract The end of the cold war calls for a new national strategy to deal with the challenges of the next decade. American national strategy must now be interest‐based to replace a policy of containment that was based on balance‐of‐power considerations. Regionally oriented, our national strategy must recognize the gradual move toward regional security systems, accept a myriad of non‐traditional threats, and foster growth in such areas as human rights. Finally, the United States must maintain a credible capabilities‐based military force to protect those interests abroad.