A new position and office needs to be created to properly manage the United States’ alliances with other nations and support its success in the Great Power Competition, according to the Defense Innovation Board.
In a mid-July report, the Department of Defense advisory group said that the DOD is lacking a “central standing mechanism for interfacing with allies, partners, and international organizations,” suggesting the establishment of an under secretary of defense for international integration and cooperation, C4ISRNET said.
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The report, which was intended to offer a comprehensive overview of the current status of DOD international engagements and where they should go from here, identified priority areas like interoperability and resource-sharing, improving production capacity, aiding distribution methods and addressing export policies, among others.
Reorganization Brewed Trouble
The main problem, the report argues, stems back to 2018, when the acquisition and research and engineering arm of the department was divided in two, forming two distinct under secretaries. Because of this, it is perceived that responsibilities regarding global affairs often fall through the cracks. The under secretary for acquisition and sustainment is currently responsible for the international defense industrial base portfolio, while the under secretary for research and engineering is tasked with science and technology partnerships. An under secretary for international integration and cooperation could take over these demanding but important jobs.
“The [new under secretary] would address the common complaint among allies and partners that the DOD and federal interagency lack the necessary capacity, transparency, and harmonization for effective international industrial base cooperation,” the board wrote.
Potential Responsibilities
If realized, the new under secretary would also supervise supply chain logistics and manage the toll taken by competition and intensifying relations with China and Russia. Classification rules, technical standards and communications networks would also be on their docket.
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