Strategic Competition

Military and Private Sector HADR – Now a Sophisticated Tool for Strategic Competition

By |2021-09-01T11:49:56-10:00September 1st, 2021|

By Deon K. Canyon [1] Benjamin J. Ryan [2] Introduction The act of offering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) was initially a selfless one with the United Nations principles focusing on addressing human suffering, not taking sides, giving based on need, and being free from influence. There are, of course, many wonderful outcomes under the cooperation umbrella that result from the provision of HADR, regardless of what nation or agency provides the aid. The delivery of HADR by the military has become standard practice, especially in the Indo-Pacific. In this region, proactive efforts to enhance military-to-military and military-civilian integration [...]

The Evolving Significance of Afghanistan in China’s Strategic Calculus: From an Insignificant ‘Backyard’ to a Consequential Geostrategic Hub

By |2020-11-24T16:01:02-10:00November 24th, 2020|

This article addresses how Afghanistan may shift its strategic outlook to meet the shift in Beijing’s behavior, which is part of a broader strategy to expand and consolidate its influence in Central, South, and Western Asia. Abstract: Paradoxical to its historic no-interest policy, China’s projection of strategic influence in Afghanistan has become increasingly visible. This shift in Beijing’s behavior is part of a broader strategy to expand and consolidate its influence in Central, South, and Western Asia. Such a policy revision in China’s strategic calculus transforms Afghanistan into a geo-strategic ‘backyard,’ that consolidates China’s influential position in the country. Additionally, [...]

Partnerships and Soft Power in Space

By |2020-10-22T14:00:33-10:00October 22nd, 2020|

This article emphasizes the importance in examining the role of allies and international partners in the newly-formed U.S. Space Force and Space Command’s evolving mission. Excerpt There are valuable gains to be won by reaching out to these many other nations either lacking in space capabilities or with civilian-led space security-related sectors. For example, in a context of strategic competition and aggressive initiatives such as the Belt and Road Space Information Corridor led by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), a broadening of our partnership aperture might help in alerting partner nations and articulating an alternative avoiding deeper economic dependence [...]

Religion in a Values-Based Approach to Strategic Competition

By |2020-10-14T11:29:47-10:00October 14th, 2020|

This article asks the question “Can we bring religious faiths and beliefs to bear in our strategic competition with our competitors?” Excerpt We speak often of a values-based approach to strategic competition.  In so doing, we usually operate within a mental frame that privileges familiar political and economic values such as those associated with our democratic political systems and practices, and our liberal market-led approaches to economic organization.  Less often do we draw attention to the place of religious faiths and beliefs within our value systems.  In a context of strategic competition, this omission potentially denies us an opportunity to [...]

Perceptions of U.S. Posture in Papua New Guinea

By |2020-10-14T10:59:37-10:00October 14th, 2020|

This article compares the effects of U.S. posture on the relationship with Papua New Guinea, to that of the People’s Republic of China, along with other influences. Excerpt In Papua New Guinea (PNG), activities by the United States were highly visible in World War II, but have steadily declined ever since. This decay in international relations has been more obvious since the early 2000s when it is contrasted with the rise of Chinese-PNG relations on a political level and on a person-to-person level through infrastructure development and overseas education. The 2011-2012 Obama era Pivot and Rebalance to the Pacific produced [...]

Strategic Competition, National Security and the Need for ‘Competitive Intelligence’

By |2020-10-14T10:53:48-10:00October 14th, 2020|

This article illustrates how Competitive intelligence lies at the center of any strategy to maintain political, economic and security posture in the Indo-Pacific region. Excerpt We live in an age in which technology is rapidly transforming every aspect of our lives. Since these advances bestow upon nations considerable advantages, they are coveted and sought after with increasing criminally-motivated avarice. This has increased tensions and competition between the great powers, which forces us to analyze how to compete in the present and the coming future. In this age of significant cooperation and competition, we all need a competitive edge to survive [...]

Strategic Competition: Why Pakistan Matters

By |2020-07-15T10:42:36-10:00July 15th, 2020|

This paper emphasizes the importance of the U.S. maintaining a strong relationship with Pakistan as strategic competition with China intensifies. Excerpt: It is worth noting that Pakistan remains vitally important to U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific, not least because of its all-weather strategic cooperative partnership with China who regards it as an “element of its strategic competition with the United States and India.” The current state of U.S.-Pakistan relations is symptomatic of an increasing ambiguity that is counterproductive to advancing U.S. interests. To state the obvious, the more the U.S distances itself from Pakistan, a country not very long ago [...]

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