Large-Scale Battle Operations Aid: Discussion by MWI War Council on Military Assistance in Fights of Substantial Magnitude
In a recent multidisciplinary panel discussion at West Point, experts discussed the role of security assistance and partner militaries in shaping the landscape of great power competition. The event, chaired by Dr. Max Margulies, featured panelists such as Dr. Frank Sobchak, chair of irregular warfare studies at MWI, Maj. Maia Molina-Schaefer from the Department of Foreign Languages, Maj. Sean Marquis from the Defense and Strategic Studies program, and Maj. Kyle Wolfley from US Army Cyber Command.
The discussion focused on how security assistance, including arms transfers, training, and advising, can enhance partner states' military capabilities and political stability, thereby increasing their resilience against coercion or aggression by great powers. This contributes to deterrence by raising the costs of hostile action and complicating adversary strategies.
One critical aspect of security assistance is the standardization of arms and equipment. Partners often procure or receive arms aligned with major powers’ military systems, promoting interoperability, which is essential for joint responses and coalition building in great power competition. For example, countries in East Asia and Eastern Europe align defense procurement with the U.S. or NATO suppliers to facilitate cooperation and strategic alignment.
Military training and advisory programs also play a significant role. They help partners operate sophisticated equipment, adopt common operational doctrines, and improve command and control. This both professionalizes partner forces and deepens security ties between them and the assisting great power, creating a more cohesive network of aligned actors.
Regular joint exercises are another crucial component. They build mutual trust, test interoperability, and demonstrate commitment in contested regions. In Asia-Pacific, exercises among the U.S., Japan, Australia, India, and others serve as visible signals of strategic pluralism intended to balance China’s rising influence by cultivating layered coalitions rather than binary blocs.
Beyond pure military capacity, security assistance fosters political alignment and dependency that extend influence. For example, U.S. assistance to countries facing domestic security threats can bolster incumbent regimes, anchoring them in U.S.-led security frameworks. Similarly, aligning defense policies through cooperation agreements reduces barriers to partner integration and helps strategic coordination.
The ongoing war in Ukraine demonstrates the importance of security assistance in modern conventional conflict. As the U.S. faces challenges maintaining its influence against Chinese and Russian engagement, which often includes arms sales and material support aligned with less restrictive policies, the role of partner contributions in arms trade and military cooperation becomes even more critical.
The print version of the War Council video is available, and it can be shared via various platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The War Council video can be accessed on the West Point website, and the link to share it on social media is provided. For those who prefer to watch the discussion in full, the War Council video is available for viewing, and questions from cadets, faculty, and staff were taken after the panelists' remarks.
For more information or to request the link to the War Council video, please email [email address provided]. The War Council video is now available for viewing, offering valuable insights into the role of security assistance in great power competition and its impact on deterrence and regional power balances.
[1] Montgomery, D., & C. K. Lee. (2020). Strategic Competition and Security Assistance: The U.S. and China in the Indo-Pacific. Center for a New American Security.
[2] Sobchak, F. (2021). The Future of Security Cooperation: Challenges and Opportunities. Modern War Institute.
[3] Margulies, M., & J. W. Lewis. (2020). The Strategic Logic of Competitive Cooperation: The U.S., China, and India in the Indo-Pacific. Center for a New American Security.
[4] O'Hanlon, M. E., & D. L. Seddon. (2020). The China Challenge: Winning the Struggle for the 21st Century. Brookings Institution Press.
[5] Khalilzad, Z., & J. J. Wit. (2021). Encountering China: American Engagement with a Rising Power. Brookings Institution Press.
- The discussion at West Point emphasized the significant role of counterterrorism and warfare in the landscape of great power competition, highlighting the importance of security assistance and partner militaries.
- In the context of great power competition, defense and strategic studies experts see military training and advisory programs as pivotal in strengthening partner states' military capabilities and political stability, leading to increased resilience against coercion or aggression.
- Regular joint exercises are considered crucial elements of security assistance, serving to build mutual trust, test interoperability, and establish strategic alliances. This is evident in the Asia-Pacific region, where exercises among various countries help balance regional power dynamics by creating layered coalitions against rising powers.
- The ongoing war in Ukraine underscores the crucial impact of security assistance in modern conventional conflicts. As war-and-conflicts continue to shape politics and general news, the collaboration between great powers and partner states in arms trade and military cooperation is increasingly critical to maintaining influence and shaping the geopolitical landscape.
