SOF stands at a pivotal moment, redefining its role after more than two decades of counterterrorism operations. While a strategic shift is underway, SOF has never lost sight of the subversive activities of state actors.
On February 26th, U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) Component Commanders testified before the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations during a congressional hearing. The discussion centered on how each Special Operations component plans to adapt to an evolving geopolitical landscape, particularly amid the resurgence of great power competition with China and Russia.
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China’s expanding influence in Africa and the Middle East, Russia’s state-sponsored cyber operations and sabotage, and Iranian IRGC and Quds Force attacks on U.S. Service Members have all been meticulously tracked by SOF, even amidst counterterrorism efforts. Though the mission focus is shifting from non-state to state actors, SOF’s core identity remains unchanged. Above all, SOF excels in adaptation, deep strategic understanding, and execution beyond traditional military roles. Operating within the human domain—a space more intricate than conventional battlefield tactics—SOF navigates complexities that demand more than just military precision.
Moving forward, private sector and non-governmental organizations will play an increasing role in shedding light on both kinetic and non-kinetic threats from state and non-state actors. As SOF expands its view of adversarial actions against the U.S. and its allies, broad collaboration will be essential to leverage the capabilities of partners and allies. The same applies to stronger civilian-military integration. As the private sector takes a leading role in equipping SOF with advanced capabilities, it will also become an early sensor for adversarial threats—often detecting activities in the cyber and information domains before the military or intelligence communities.
