Final answer:
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff performs joint strategic planning through collaborative processes within the U.S. government's NSC and intelligence community, ensuring integration of military planning with larger U.S. foreign policy and national security considerations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary means of performing joint strategic planning by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) is through a collaborative process that involves the National Security Council (NSC) and the intelligence community, including the Director of National Intelligence and the CIA Director. Given the complex nature of modern warfare and the global military landscape, the CJCS must rely on a dynamic interagency dialogue to inform strategic decisions and maintain strategic superiority. With the NSC led by the National Security Advisor, the CJCS has regular interaction with the President and other key military and civilian advisors, confirming that strategic military planning is deeply integrated into the broader considerations of U.S. foreign policy and national security.
The General Staff, or the permanent staff of high-ranking officers, is responsible for the detailed planning required to coordinate large-scale troop movements and operations. Therefore, the principle of collective decision-making and widespread consultation within the highest levels of military and civilian government is key to the CJCS's role in strategic planning. This process ensures that the President can rely on a set of thoroughly considered military options and intelligence insights when facing both immediate crises and long-term challenges to global order.