A new strategy for military spending unveiled Jan. 5 by President Obama at a Pentagon press conference calls on the Pentagon to, among other things, work with international allies on securing cyberspace and spend on advanced cybersecurity measures.

The strategy is meant to address how military spending will be ramped down following a decade-long peak during which the United States fought two wars. It doesn't articulate specific cuts, however--although it does state that "it is possible that our deterrence goals can be achieved with a smaller nuclear force."

During the press conference, Obama also said that the administration will "continue to get rid of outdated Cold War-era systems so we can invest in capabilities that we need for the future."

Perhaps the greatest change articulated in the strategy document is a call to "rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific region." The document notes that the U.S. has worked to create a "long term strategic partnership" relationship with India, and that "China's emergence as a regional power will have the potential to affect the U.S. economy and our security in a variety of ways."

The importance of cyberspace is mentioned in multiple places throughout the document, including in a list of "primary missions" labeled "deter and defeat aggression," where cyberspace is named as one of the domains such as land, air, maritime and space in which warfighting can occur.

"Operate Effectively in Cyberspace and Space" is listed as a mission area of its own, as well.

"Modern armed forces cannot conduct high-tempo, effective operations without reliable information and communication networks and assured access to cyberspace and space," the document notes.

For more:
- listen to President Obama's press Jan. 5 press briefing
- download the spending strategy (.pdf)

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