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.
Securing Ukraine’s Future in Europe: Ukraine's Defense Industrial Base—An Anchor for Economic Renewal and European Security
English Summary
Ukraine’s defense industrial base (DIB) has transformed from a wartime survival mechanism into a high-tech pillar of European security and a central driver for the country's postwar economic renewal. Driven by a 100-fold increase in defense-tech investment and the production of millions of drones, the sector is pivoting toward industrial-scale exports and coproduction models with European allies. The establishment of Ukrainian defense export centers across Europe signals a shift from aid dependency to strategic partnership, aiming to synchronize regulatory standards and attract private venture capital. Successfully integrating this mil-tech ecosystem will require Western policy support for joint certification and risk-sharing to overcome domestic governance hurdles and maximize Europe's collective deterrence.
中文摘要
烏克蘭國防工業基地 (DIB) 已從戰時生存機制轉型為歐洲安全的科技支柱，並成為該國戰後經濟復甦的核心驅動力。在國防科技投資增長百倍及數百萬架無人機產量的推動下，該產業正轉向工業規模出口及與歐洲盟友的共同生產模式。遍布歐洲的烏克蘭國防出口中心之設立，標誌著從依賴援助轉向戰略夥伴關係，旨在同步監管標準並吸引私人風險資本。成功整合這一軍事技術生態系統將需要西方在聯合認證與風險共擔方面的政策支持，以克服國內治理障礙並最大化歐洲的集體威懾力。
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