Counter Drug Operations in the Context of Great Power Competition
Abstract
The United States invests significant time and resources in conducting drug interdiction operations in the Western Hemisphere. However, the primary strategic focus for the United States is great power competition (GPC) with Russia and China. GPC objectives are accomplished by maintaining or expanding influence, which can be achieved by becoming another nation's partner of choice. Partnership requires understanding the priorities of other nations so that mutually beneficial policy can be developed. This thesis examines how drug interdiction operations support the United States' strategic GPC objectives. By identifying the national priorities for Latin American partners and assessing the importance of counter-drug policy, this thesis concludes that drug interdiction operations have the potential to support the United States' GPC objectives only if a partner nation places similar importance on counter-drug policy. As the regional hegemon, the United States must determine the risk of not becoming or not remaining the partner of choice in exchange for accomplishing U.S. policy goals without considering the priorities of partner nations
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1164360
Entities
People
- Claire L. Longabaugh
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School