Global Operating Environment Assessing the Global Operating Environment easuring the “strength” of a military has stationed assets or permanent bases and Mforce—the extent to which that force can countries from which the U.S. has launched accomplish missions—requires examination of military operations in the past may provide the environments in which the force operates. needed support to future U.S. military opera- Aspects of one environment may facilitate mil- tions. The relationships and knowledge gained itary operations; aspects of another may work through any of these factors would undoubt- against them. A favorable operating environ- edly make future U.S. military operations in ment presents the U.S. military with obvious a region easier and help to ensure a positive advantages; an unfavorable operating envi- operating environment. ronment may limit the effect of U.S. military In addition to U.S. defense relations within power. The capabilities and assets of U.S. allies, a region, other criteria—including the quali- the strength of foes, the region’s geopolitical ty of the local infrastructure, the area’s po- environment, and the availability of forward litical stability, whether or not a country is facilities and logistics infrastructure all factor embroiled in any conflicts, and the degree to into whether an operating environment is one which a nation is economically free—should that can support U.S. military operations. also be considered. When assessing an operating environment, Then there are low-likelihood, high- one must pay particular attention to any U.S. consequence events that, although they occur treaty obligations in the region. A treaty de- infrequently, can still radically alter condi- fense obligation ensures that the legal frame- tions in ways that affect U.S. interests. Massive work is in place for the U.S. to maintain and natural disasters like Typhoon Tip (1979)1 or operate a military presence in a particular the explosion of Mount Tambora (1816)2 can country. In addition, a treaty partner usually displace populations, upend regional power yields regular training exercises and interop- arrangements, or destroy critical infrastruc- erability as well as political and economic ties. ture. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo did just Additional factors—including the military that in 1991, causing so much damage to Clark capabilities of allies that might be useful to Airbase and Subic Bay Naval Station that the U.S. military operations; the degree to which cost, combined with diplomatic frictions be- the U.S. and allied militaries in the region tween the U.S. and the Philippines, led the U.S. are interoperable and can use, for example, to abandon these strategic facilities.3 A mas- common means of command, communica- sive solar flare could have a similar impact tion, and other systems; and whether the U.S. on a much larger scale because of the world’s maintains key bilateral alliances with nations dependence on electrical power. Scientists, in the region—also affect the operating en- analysts, planners, and officials in public and vironment. Likewise, nations where the U.S. commercial ventures study such things but The Heritage Foundation | heritage.org/Military 99 seldom take concrete action to mitigate their would otherwise work to ensure that their mil- potential impact. itary forces are able to collaborate effectively. Today, the world has been shaken by the The impact of the pandemic on specific COVID-19 pandemic that has caused govern- countries will be addressed in the assessments ments to spend extraordinary sums of money of military readiness, political stability, and not only to manage the public health crisis, but access to training, exercise, and operational also to mitigate its economic impact on their basing opportunities. countries. Its attendant stresses have put ter- Each of these factors contributes to an in- rific pressures on political establishments; formed judgment as to whether a particular caused governments to divert funding from operating environment is favorable or unfa- other matters such as defense capabilities to vorable to future U.S. military operations. The the more immediate demands of the pandemic; operating environment assessment is meant and, given the threat of contagion, the adop- to add critical context to complement the tion of mitigation measures that have led to threat environment and U.S. military assess- the cancellation of military exercises, training ments that are detailed in subsequent sections events, and deployments. It remains to be seen of the Index. what the long-term consequences will be, but A final note: The Index of U.S. Military for the assessed year of 2020, the COVID-19 Strength refers to all disputed territories by the pandemic has minimized activities that would names employed by the United States Depart- normally keep military forces in a ready sta- ment of State. This should not be interpreted tus, pressured related financial accounts, and as reflecting a position on any of these disputes. caused problems for allied countries that 100 2021 Index of U.S. Military Strength Endnotes 1. Meghan Evans, “Earth’s Strongest, Most Massive Storm Ever,” Scientific American, October 12, 2012, https://www. scientificamerican.com/article/earths-strongest-most-massive-storm-ever/ (accessed May 17, 2020). 2. Robert Evans, “Blast from the Past: The Eruption of Mount Tambora Killed Thousands, Plunged Much of the World into a Frightful Chill and Offers Lessons for Today,” Smithsonian Magazine, July 2002, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/blast-from-the- past-65102374/ (accessed May 17, 2020). 3. Philip Shenon, “U.S. Will Abandon Volcano-Ravaged Air Base, Manila Is Told,” The New York Times, July 16, 1991, https://www. nytimes.com/1991/07/16/world/us-will-abandon-volcano-ravaged-air-base-manila-is-told.html (accessed May 17, 2020). The Heritage Foundation | heritage.org/Military 101 Europe Daniel Kochis uring the past year, America continued economic interest. For more than 70 years, Dto reengage on European defense and the the U.S. military presence has contributed to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) regional security and stability, economically continued to operationalize new decisions, benefiting both Europeans and Americans. exercises, and structures to bolster collective The economies of the member states of the defense, but the spring shock of the COVID-19 European Union (EU), along with the United pandemic caused some defense exercises to be States, account for approximately half of the cancelled or postponed and necessitated the global economy. In addition, the U.S. and the use of military resources for the pandemic re- EU’s member countries are generally each oth- sponse across Europe.1 External threats to Eu- er’s principal trading partners. ropean security include the continued risk of Europe is also important to the U.S. because Russian aggression toward the eastern states of of its geographical proximity to some of the NATO, Russian activity in the Arctic, a growing world’s most dangerous and contested regions. Russian presence in the Mediterranean the- From the eastern Atlantic Ocean to the Middle ater, and Russian efforts to destabilize Western East, up to the Caucasus through Russia, and cohesion. In addition, the threat to the trans- into the Arctic, Europe is enveloped by an arc atlantic alliance posed by Chinese investments, of instability. The European region also has technology, and propaganda efforts has begun some of the world’s most vital shipping lanes, to move toward center stage. energy resources, and trade choke points. The 51 countries in the U.S. European Com- European basing for U.S. forces provides the mand (USEUCOM) area of responsibility in- ability to respond robustly and quickly to chal- clude approximately one-fifth of the world’s lenges to U.S. economic and security interests population, 10.7 million square miles of land, in and near the region. Russian naval activity and 13 million square miles of ocean. Some in the North Atlantic and Arctic has necessitat- of America’s oldest (France) and closest (the ed a renewed focus on regional command and United Kingdom) allies are found in Europe. control and has led to increased operations by The U.S. and Europe share a strong commit- U.S. and allied air and naval assets in the Arctic. ment to the rule of law, human rights, free mar- At the same time, Russia’s strengthened posi- kets, and democracy. During the 20th century, tion in Syria has led to a resurgence of Russian millions of Americans fought alongside Euro- activity in the Mediterranean that has contrib- pean allies to defend these shared ideals—the uted to “congested” conditions.2 foundations on which America was built. Speaking at an Atlantic Council meeting America’s economic ties to the region are in March 2019, General Joseph F. Dunford, likewise important. A stable, secure, and former Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs economically viable Europe is in America’s of Staff, explained that the U.S. has two key The Heritage Foundation | heritage.org/Military 103 advantages over adversaries: “our network of and deter adversaries. Increases of for- allies and partners, and the ability to project ward-stationed and rotational forces con- power where and when necessary to advance tinue to improve our posture and enable our national interest.”3 Nowhere is the value us to compete and win in a multi-domain of allies and U.S. basing more apparent than in crisis or conflict. EDI funding for exercises, the European operating environment. training, and building partner capacity U.S. Reinvestment in Europe. Russia’s programs enhance the readiness and continued aggression in the region has caused interoperability of U.S. and Alliance forces. the U.S. to reinvest in military capabilities on EDI funds have also improved our ability the continent.