Overseas basing logistics at a crossroads in the Middle East, sub-Sahara Africa, and the western Indian Ocean

Executive summary

The United States has declared that the post-Cold War era is over and that competition among today’s major world powers will shape what comes next.¹ The 2022 National Security Strategy (NSS) and National Defense Strategy (NDS) state that the top two U.S. strategic priorities are outcompeting China and constraining Russia.² To pursue these goals, the United States must project power globally and maintain a sustained regional presence in multiple regions. In the Middle East (ME), Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), and the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), meeting the NSS and NDS objectives are at a crossroads.³ The United States could fail in today’s security environment if they continue using current U.S. basing practices and limited resources. A new strategy of building robust logistics networks can help the U.S. meet its goals to keep pace with China and deter Russia.

The views expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. government or the Brookings Institution.