Ukraine’s battlefield innovations in drones, AI, and electronic warfare offer the US a critical preview of future conflict. Partnering with Ukraine now could help modernize America’s defense and avoid strategic lag.
The UCP is overdue for a major update, as it no longer lends itself to a grand strategy aimed at deterring Chinese aggression.
With the potential return of a global war, it is time to reconsider the Joint Staff’s historical role of coordinating global operations during a conflict.
The president and the secretary of defense have the power to issue new UCPs at their will. They should exercise that power now.
This could be the most volatile geopolitical moment in the Indo-Pacific since World War II. Extreme uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s policies is prompting U.S. allies and partners alike to explore the possibility of relying less on the United States and pivoting more toward China.
