"I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise what is there to defend?"

Robert Redford draws a powerful connection between environmental protection and national security. By proposing that the environment be treated as a core aspect of safeguarding a nation, he elevates its importance to the same level as military or foreign policy concerns. Traditionally, national security is defined by borders, military strength, and foreign threats, but Redford’s assertion challenges that narrow focus. He suggests that without healthy natural resources, clean water, air, forests, and fertile soil, the foundation of society is threatened from within, regardless of external dangers.

He argues that defending physical land and military interests abroad is meaningless if the homeland’s natural systems are neglected or depleted. If we focus solely on defense against external threats without protecting what sustains domestic wellbeing, we risk undermining the very basis for national survival and prosperity. Air, water, and food security, basic to all citizens, are integral components of national interest. Redford’s message implies that vulnerability to degradation, pollution, or climate change may be as serious as facing an armed enemy.

The rhetorical question he asks, “Otherwise what is there to defend?”, serves as a wakeup call. If the cherished landscapes, resources, and ecological systems are left unprotected, the purpose of mounting defenses against foreign threats comes into question. Nations spend vast resources on defense, believing it preserves their future, yet if critical resources are exhausted, the incentive and rationale for such defense evaporate. Peace of mind and the health of future generations hinge on recognizing this interdependence.

Therefore, robust environmental policies become an act of patriotism, preserving what is most valuable for a country and its people. Redford’s view demands a broader, more integrated concept of security, one that balances military preparedness with a proactive stance on environmental conservation as essential to what it means to defend a nation.