Countering Belt and Road Influence: Options for US Special Operations Forces

Recent US national strategy documents emphasize the need to compete against revisionist states. China has drawn the most concern due to the global scale of its actions to contest the existing world order. US military documents also emphasize competition and the need to integrate the Joint Force with other elements of national power to compete successfully. Unfortunately, the guidance fails to provide the Joint Force or special operations forces the specific means for this whole of government integration. Meanwhile, China continues to advance its agenda through programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an infrastructure development program that promises win-win partnerships by offering participating countries competitive loans, construction services, technology upgrades, and access to the Chinese market. BRI also positions Chinese investments astride some of the world's most important maritime trade routes and strategic choke points and provides China significant leverage over participating countries. BRI takes advantage of a lack of transparency surrounding its agreements as well as various influence mechanisms to attract and retain participating countries. To counter BRI, the US must first develop a better understanding of the unique circumstances driving countries to participate. The Joint Concept for Integrated Campaigning (JCIC) provides an approach for the Joint Force to contribute to a whole-of-government effort such as countering BRI. However, it fails to describe a means for the integration with interorganizational partners that it suggests is necessary for success. Lessons from US counterterrorism efforts offer potential options for US government integration and for the application of special operations forces to achieve the JCICs desired outcomes as well as the means to counter Chinas coercive BRI activities.