Strategic Competition > Alliances & Partnerships
Modernizing Alliances & Partnerships
Strengthening America's Strategic Network for the Competition of Systems
“Strength lies not only in our arms, but in the networks of trusted cooperation we lead.”
Kennedy photo - Smithsonian American History Museum.
Strategic Framework
- Alliances and global engagement define how networks are built.
Why Alliances Must Modernize
- In today’s era of geoeconomic competition, strategic success will depend not only on military partnerships but also on:
- Technology collaboration
- Economic resilience
- Innovation ecosystems
- Standard-setting leadership
- America’s traditional alliances remain foundational but must be modernized and augmented to meet the challenges of system-wide competition.
- Victory will depend on:
- Updating legacy alliances like NATO and the Five Eyes to address technology, cyber, supply chains, and innovation security
- Forging agile new coalitions focused on emerging domains
- Coordinating across defense, technology, trade, and infrastructure simultaneously
Applying the STEAD Framework: Integration, Not Silos
To align alliance modernization with broader strategic objectives, WISC applies the STEAD Framework:
STEAD Framework: Integrating Security, Technology, Economics, Alliances, and Diplomacy efforts to align non-military tools toward strategic goals and lasting advantage.
STEAD Pillar > Strategic Actions
- Security > Expand defense and technology collaboration in critical and emerging domains.
- Technology > Build coalitions that set global standards in AI, telecom, and digital governance.
- Economics > Secure innovation ecosystems and trusted supply chains through allied cooperation.
- Alliances > Refresh traditional pacts and forge agile new partnerships for the technology age.
- Diplomacy > Leverage multilateral forums to reinforce democratic norms and open systems.
- Modern alliances must reinforce America’s leadership not just in defense — but across the full spectrum of economic, technological, and governance competition.
Strategic Breadth, Long-Term Focus, and Direct Engagement
- Broad View. WISC deliberately integrates across security, technology, economics, and diplomacy — ensuring alliances are modernized for system-wide competition.
- Broad View. WISC deliberately integrates across security, technology, economics, and diplomacy — ensuring alliances are modernized for system-wide competition.
- Roundtables Add to Breadth. WISC regularly convenes public and private roundtables incorporating insights from U.S. Congress, government agencies, allied diplomats, academia, civil society, and private industry — alongside international think tank collaborations.
- Strategic Evaluation. WISC evaluates every recommendation against three primary criteria:
- Will it deter great power aggression?
- Will it advance the peace and prosperity of Americans?
- Will it advance the peace and prosperity of the world?
Strategic Fronts of Alliance Modernization
Modernizing Traditional Alliances
- Legacy alliances such as NATO, the Five Eyes, and key bilateral security treaties remain pillars of strength. But to stay decisive, they must expand their mission beyond defense to:
- Secure cyber and AI domains
- Build resilience in supply chains and critical infrastructure
- Foster collaborative innovation leadership
Forging New Tech and Economic Coalitions
- New partnerships must complement old ones — focusing on speed, agility, and emerging domains:
- The Quad, AUKUS, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework are early models
- Flexible "mini-lateral" coalitions can move faster to address specific challenges
- Cooperation on technology standards, innovation funding, and secure supply chains must expand
Securing Innovation and Supply Chain Networks
- Strategic advantage increasingly depends on:
- Coordinated research and development initiatives
- Trusted production ecosystems among allies
- Infrastructure investment and digital backbone security
Leveraging Multilateral Platforms for Strategic Influence
- Global forums like the G7, OECD, WTO, and World Bank remain powerful platforms to:
- Shape international norms
- Shape international norms
- Contest authoritarian influence over global rules and standards
Modernizing alliances must include energizing these multilateral venues to advance democratic values.
Closing Principle
The strength of American leadership lies not only in military alliances, but in strategic networks of trust, innovation, and resilience.