The strategy, which updates a 1997 plan, aims to improve the quality of state administration and coordinate the activities of the government and public organizations on defending Russia's national interests and protecting society and the state.
At a meeting with Defense Ministry officials last week, Medvedev said long-term defense plans must be based on the national security strategy, taking into account modern-day realities and potential threats.
Under the previous strategy, terrorism was identified as the main threat facing the country.
Analysts say that in the new strategy, the main threats will be identified as competition for energy resources, NATO's expansion near Russia's borders, and the policies of a number of states to gain nuclear pre-eminence over Russia.
The president announced last year that Russia would make the modernization of its nuclear deterrent and Armed Forces a priority in light of last August's war with Georgia.
Russia's military spending has been steadily growing recently. According to various estimates, spending will rise 50% over the next three years from the current level of $40 billion.
Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said earlier that the share of modern weaponry in the Russian Armed Forces would reach 30% by 2015, and 70% by 2020.