In an address at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s Global Impact Forum in Washington, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. highlighted the crucial role of partnerships and collaboration in addressing the increasingly complex global security landscape.
Gen. Brown, reflecting on his nearly four decades of military service, underscored the significance of working alongside allies and interagency partners to navigate the multifaceted challenges that encompass diplomatic, informational, and economic dimensions, in addition to military concerns.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with our allies and partners,” Brown remarked. “I’m a big believer in collaboration. We cannot do all we do as a military by ourselves, and the value of our partnerships with the interagency and our allies is paramount.”
Brown emphasized a strategic approach to fostering strong collaborations, which involves building robust relationships and cooperating on critical issues. “It’s all about relationships,” he noted. “We want to make sure that we’ve actually gone through the steps, worked together, and built those relationships.”
He acknowledged that diverse perspectives from various agencies and international partners are invaluable, even when they lead to differing viewpoints. “That friction helps us identify areas of risk and focus on what needs attention, allowing us to see things more clearly due to the dialogue we have,” he said.
As the global security environment becomes more complex and interconnected, these relationships are increasingly vital. Brown pointed to the 2022 National Defense Strategy, which outlines significant challenges posed by China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and violent extremist groups.
“All five of them are active and, in some respects, collaborating,” Brown explained. “You see that particularly with the situation in Ukraine—Russia’s unprovoked invasion has received support from the People’s Republic of China, Iran, and North Korea.”
He also noted the ongoing operations of violent extremist organizations worldwide, adding to the complexity of global security. “This complexity underscores the importance of increased dialogue among our allies and partners,” Brown stated.
Brown highlighted the growing collaboration among NATO allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing the United States’ leadership role in maintaining these ties. “Our allies and partners often look to us for direction,” he said. “They are willing to step up, but we need to set the path and listen to their input as well.”
He concluded by affirming that allies and partners are committed to addressing the security challenges collectively. “They are stepping up and are very interested in addressing the security challenges we discuss,” Brown affirmed.–News Desk