Strategy Central

How Best to Rule The World? Regime Type & Great Power Competition The ideological dynamic that profoundly shaped the Cold War is not as pronounced in the current geopolitical moment of great power competition.? The heavy use of words like “revanchist” and “malign actors” in U.S. national security and academic circles obscures the fact that political ideologies remain very much in play. If setting the rules for global order is the prize in great power competition, then understanding the alternative systems of order becomes an essential tool in the national security toolbox. This analysis explores the state of international order, the common systems of governance, and what impact the evolving regime types may have on national security approaches.? To get there, it will be necessary to explore governance types, compare their definitions, highlight their differences, and examine each regime type's influence on foreign policy. https://lnkd.in/ecDxAKHq

China's Massive Espionage Machine: Can the U.S. Effectively Fight Back? In response to China's growing espionage activities, the United States has crafted a robust counterintelligence strategy to mitigate the theft of critical information and intellectual property. The "National Counterintelligence Strategy of 2024" outlines key measures to outmaneuver and constrain foreign intelligence entities, particularly China, which the U.S. sees as one of its most significant espionage threats. Chinese intelligence operations target everything from advanced technologies to sensitive government data, infiltrating not only federal systems but also private industries, research institutions, and academic settings. Recent high-profile incidents, such as the dismantling of Flax Typhoon and other botnets, have heightened awareness across sectors and driven immediate enhancements in countermeasures, reinforcing the need for coordinated responses. https://lnkd.in/eZtwiQEn

?? Check out the Strategy Central Podcast! In Episode #4, Rachel and Hal explore our recent analysis of how President-elect Trump’s foreign policy—on Taiwan, NATO, tariffs, and Ukraine—might influence China’s plans for Taiwan. They discuss the strategic risks and potential advantages of U.S. non-intervention, from economic shifts to military implications. Don't miss this insightful dive into how these decisions could reshape global power dynamics. Click here to listen! https://wix.to/KPQqBvo #StratbotAI #Podcast #Military #Strategy #Taiwan #China #ForeignPolicy

Mao's Mastery of Irregular Warfare: Lessons from the Revolution The People's Republic of China, a powerful nation whose rise to global prominence commands significant international attention, was not forged through conventional means. Instead, its foundation was built through a series of calculated, asymmetric maneuvers, a style of warfare that Mao Zedong perfected in his struggle against the Kuomintang (KMT) during the Chinese Civil War. The roots of China's current embrace of irregular warfare (IW) as a critical part of its national defense strategy can be traced back to Mao’s revolutionary tactics. Mao's emphasis on the combination of irregular and conventional warfare and his belief in winning over the population provides a framework that helps to explain how and why the modern People's Liberation Army (PLA) is so adept at irregular strategies today. https://lnkd.in/eTGHmdYh

?? Beyond Translation: Why Language Training Still Matters in an AI World In a time of advanced AI translation tools, human language training remains crucial for U.S. Special Operations Forces. Beyond communication, it builds cognitive agility, cultural understanding, and trust—advantages machines can’t replicate. Language learning sharpens decision-making, enhances adaptability, and fosters deeper connections in complex environments. Just as GPS didn’t replace traditional navigation skills, AI should augment, not replace, these core human capabilities. Discover how investing in language proficiency shapes minds and missions for the modern battlefield. https://wix.to/CEp7Uno #StratbotAI #Leadership #AI #LanguageTraining #SpecialOperations #CulturalEmpathy

?? Adapting to the Gray Zone: A New Military Paradigm As global conflict evolves, traditional large-scale warfare is no longer the primary operating environment. The concept of the “Gray Zone” reveals that most modern conflicts exist in a space between traditional war and peace, pushing the U.S. military to rethink its approach. Our latest article explores a Gray Zone-focused force structure for each branch of the U.S. military: ?? Army: Emphasize agile units and cyber capabilities for rapid, flexible responses. ? Navy: Develop smaller, distributed fleets for operations in contested waters. ?? Air Force: Shift to intelligence, rapid mobility, and influence operations. ?? Marine Corps: Prioritize stand-in forces for coastal control and hybrid missions. ?? Space Force: Enhance space ISR and cyber resilience to support hybrid deterrence. As we face increasingly complex threats, leveraging influence, resilience, and hybrid capabilities is essential for effective deterrence. Read the full analysis to learn how the U.S. military should evolve to address the challenges of the Gray Zone ?? https://wix.to/BWXr8eS #StratbotAI #GrayZone #MilitaryStrategy #DefenseInnovation #HybridConflict #CyberWarfare

Join Rachel and Hal in Strategy Central's podcast episode #3 as they discuss the concept of the “Gray Zone,” and how it has shaped - and misshaped - discussions about contemporary conflict within Western military frameworks. (12 min): https://lnkd.in/enSax_AD #StratbotAI #Podcast #Military #Strategy

?? Exploring the Gray Zone: Redefining Warfare Norms As global conflicts grow increasingly complex, Western concepts of war face new challenges in adapting to non-traditional threats. Phil Kapusta’s 2015 “Gray Zone” theory—a space of conflict between peace and war—sheds light on these ambiguities. With only five conventional U.S. wars in a century, versus 57 non-traditional engagements, the Gray Zone has become the norm rather than the exception in warfare. But by defining the Gray Zone as an intermediate space “below the threshold of war,” Kapusta’s framing unintentionally reinforces the notion of “worst case” conventional warfare as a normative standard, instead of as the divergent condition it actually is. The Gray Zone is the norm - not the outlier. It demands that we recalibrate our approach to military strategy, prioritizing hybrid tactics, information warfare, and cyber capabilities. Read more in our full analysis ?? https://wix.to/MD97N4D #StratbotAI #GrayZone #MilitaryStrategy #DefenseInnovation #ModernWarfare #HybridWarfare

The Chinese Approach to Gray Zone & Irregular Competition? An Integrated Strategy Not Matched By The U.S. China's approach to Irregular Warfare (IW) is integral to its broader military and geopolitical strategy, designed to complement conventional forces and expand influence through non-kinetic means.? China is weaving an irregular strategy that extends beyond traditional battlegrounds into the social, economic, and informational realms by leveraging information, influence, and non-state actors. To confuse matters even more, the U.S. refers to the realm between peace and war as the gray zone. In contrast to China’s ambiguous and integrated approach to competition short of conflict, the U.S. approach to IW and gray zone activities has often been compartmentalized, focusing heavily on Special Operations Forces (SOF) and a mixed bag of diplomatic, economic, and informational conventional tools. U.S. intelligence services likely have the most success exploiting the gray zone, but they must be better coordinated and revelatory about the effects. The United States should revise its gray zone strategy to counter China and effectively advance and protect its national security interests within the context of Great Power Competition. This article aims to enhance understanding of Beijing's perspective on Irregular Warfare (IW), including its historical context and the application of IW operations in the gray zone. https://lnkd.in/eG3PJz_d

Comparing Trust, Respect, and Communication Between the North Korea–Russia and South Korea–U.S. Alliances - By Dave Maxwell This week, we are honored to share an article by COL (Ret) Dave Maxwell on the basic requirements for integrated nation states' combined combat operations. Dave writes that as North Korean troops begin deployment to Russia with the prospect of fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, communication challenges are becoming evident. While military operations rely on clear communication, the relationship between Russian and North Korean forces goes beyond linguistic issues. To succeed on the battlefield, trust and mutual respect between the forces are equally crucial. Interpretation and translation can only bridge some of these gaps, and without trust, there is a risk of miscommunication and failure on the battlefield. https://lnkd.in/gBe_McpG