Squaring the Circle

The Army's Pivot to the Pacific with Dr. Jennifer Kavanagh

78 snips
Jul 18, 2025
In this discussion, Jennifer Kavanagh, a Senior Fellow and Director of Military Analysis at Defense Priorities, delves into the U.S. Army's pivot towards the Pacific amid evolving global dynamics. She critiques the challenges posed by China's military rise and calls for strategic reforms in military command. The conversation touches on reassessing national security threats and the importance of balancing military presence with economic considerations. Kavanagh also reflects on personal growth, highlighting how literature can inspire resilience amidst change.
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INSIGHT

Army's Core Roles in Asia

  • The US Army's two main roles in Asia are air defense and joint force support like logistics and command and control.
  • Expanding into other ambitious tasks like long-range fires has been costly and yielded limited returns.
INSIGHT

Realistic US Presence in Pacific

  • Expanding US ground forces in the First Island Chain faces resistance due to host nations' security concerns.
  • The US should leverage existing bases in the Second Island Chain and Australia for a more distributed, resilient presence.
INSIGHT

Restrain Global Military Ambitions

  • The US should narrow its focus to homeland defense and Asia due to limited resources and global shifts.
  • Europe and the Middle East can and should take on more of their own defense responsibilities.
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