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On April 9, 2021, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released the Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community. This annual report of worldwide threats to the national security of the United States responds to Section 617 of the FY21 Intelligence Authorization Act (P.L. 116-260) and reflects the collective insights of the Intelligence Community.
The report focusses on 6 major issues: (1) China’s Push for Global Power; (2) Russian Provocative Actions; (3) Iranian Provocative Actions; (4) North Korean Provocative Actions; (5) Transnational Issues; and (6) Conflicts and Instability.
The report notes that “Beijing, Moscow, Tehran, and Pyongyang have demonstrated the capability and intent to advance their interests at the expense of the United States and its allies, despite the pandemic. China increasingly is a near-peer competitor, challenging the United States in multiple arenas—especially economically, militarily, and technologically—and is pushing to change global norms. Russia is pushing back against Washington where it can globally, employing techniques up to and including the use of force. Iran will remain a regional menace with broader malign influence activities, and North Korea will be a disruptive player on the regional and world stages. Major adversaries and competitors are enhancing and exercising their military, cyber, and other capabilities, raising the risks to US and allied forces, weakening our conventional deterrence, and worsening the longstanding threat from weapons of mass destruction.”
As required by the law, the report will be provided to the congressional intelligence committees as well as the committees on the Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
