The Blind Spot: How a Gap in Climate Security Strategy Leads to Opportunities for Maligned Actors in Strategic Competition
Publisher: Small Wars Journal
Author(s): Alexander Kenna and Matthew Alexander
Date: 2023
Topics: Climate Change, Disasters, Governance, Humanitarian Assistance
Countries: China, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, Solomon Islands, Syrian Arab Republic, United States
As the US military continues to develop its climate security strategy and action plans, the current publications and programs only briefly mention proactive international actions by enhancing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance efforts. However, this approach is not a sufficient response to the complexity of climate insecurity. The current lines of effort for the DOD Climate Adaptation Plan would benefit from an additional measure that is proactive and international at its base.
The oversight of the near-term consequences of destructive climate events such as drought, flooding, rising sea levels, etc., resulting in resource scarcity for vulnerable populations has allowed adversaries of the United States to capitalize on these vulnerable states. This allows these maligned actors access economic, military, and political advantages through providing resources and infrastructure to these fragile populations. While the United States needs to focus first domestically, neglecting international efforts to combat climate insecurity will only further the loss in adversarial competition while endangering US national security.