Diyar Guldogan
19 March 2026•Update: 19 March 2026
WASHINGTON
US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard released the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment, warning that the country faces a widening array of security challenges ranging from transnational crime and terrorism, to rising competition from major global powers.
According to the report released Wednesday, China, Russia, Iran and North Korea view the US as a "strategic competitor and potential adversary."
On China, the report said in 2026, Beijing probably will continue seeking to set the conditions for eventual unification with Taiwan, short of conflict.
The intelligence community assessed that "Chinese leaders do not currently plan to execute an invasion of Taiwan in 2027, nor do they have a fixed timeline for achieving unification."
About Iran, the report said the country has proven capable of developing lethal operations against Americans at home and abroad, and probably will attempt to pursue such efforts again if the government remains in power and is able to rebuild.
The report comes as the US and Israel have continued a joint offensive on Iran since Feb. 28, killing so far more than 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.
"If the regime survives, Tehran almost certainly will seek to exact revenge for the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; it still maintains its long-term strategic intent to avenge the death of former IRGC-QF Commander Qasem Soleimani by targeting current and former U.S. officials," the report said.
According to the report, the US' nuclear deterrent capability continues to ensure safety at home.
"However, China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan have been researching and developing an array of novel, advanced, or traditional missile delivery systems with nuclear and conventional payloads, that can strike the Homeland," it said.
About the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the report assessed that during the past year, Russia has maintained "the upper hand" in the war.
Russia "sees little reason to stop fighting so long as its forces continue to gain ground. Moscow almost certainly remains confident that it will prevail on the battlefield in Ukraine and force a settlement on its terms," it said.
Per report, the intelligence community assesses that the US faces a "variety of threats" in the coming year, including transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking, migration, the threat of Islamist ideology and terrorism, major power competition, and weapons of mass destruction threats.
