The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
A rebalancing NATO gathers in Ankara
English Summary
The upcoming NATO summit in Ankara signals a critical moment for rebalancing the U.S.-European security partnership amidst internal disputes and external pressures. The meeting will assess member states' commitment to increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP while navigating the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and geopolitical shifts in the Middle East. These challenges necessitate that NATO redefine its strategic focus, moving beyond traditional transatlantic relations to manage a complex, evolving global security architecture.
中文摘要
即將在安卡拉舉行的北約峰會，標誌著美歐安全夥伴關係處於關鍵的重新平衡時刻。本次會議將評估成員國提高國防開支至佔國內生產總值（GDP）5%的承諾，同時應對持續的俄烏衝突和中東的地緣政治轉變。這些挑戰要求北約必須重新定義其戰略重點，超越傳統的大西洋跨大西洋關係，以管理一個複雜、不斷演變的全球安全架構。
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