Military Aid at Home and Abroad: Impact on Civil-Military Ties and Force Operations
The health of U.S. civil-military relations plays a pivotal role in the nation's ability to promote healthy civil-military norms globally, particularly in the context of Security Force Assistance (SFA). A robust and stable civil-military relationship at home serves as the foundation for credible and effective advocacy of such norms overseas.
When U.S. civil-military relations are characterised by trust, restraint, and clear civilian control, the U.S. can act as a model and partner in guiding foreign security forces towards respecting democratic civilian oversight and preventing military politicization. However, recent trends indicate an increasing politicization of the U.S. military and a decline in public trust, which could be detrimental to the civil-military bargain that has traditionally been a key American achievement.
This bargain relies on the restraint of both military and civilian authorities and has been carefully maintained for over two centuries. If this relationship weakens, the United States' ability to credibly promote healthy civil-military relations abroad—such as through SFA missions aimed at building accountable and professional foreign forces—may be compromised. This is because U.S. actors would be seen as lacking legitimacy or consistency in their own governance.
The U.S. military's domestic role, particularly in supporting civilian authorities rather than direct policing or political interventions, also significantly influences perceptions abroad regarding the proper balance of civil-military relations and adherence to norms. Maintaining a clear, lawful limit on military involvement preserves civilian supremacy and underscores the norms the U.S. encourages in partner nations.
In the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa, civil-military relations have been volatile in recent years. Analysts emphasise the critical need for SFA in the Sahel to prioritise civil-military relations. The challenges of effective SFA are well documented, but central features of these programs include imparting the importance of civilian control over the military and respect for human rights in recipient countries.
The optics surrounding weakening civil-military norms in the United States matter for the legitimacy of SFA programs. The diffusion of healthy norms of civil-military relations, particularly the tenets of civilian control of the military and the military's faithful execution of civilian orders, has been seen as a given. However, cracks in the health of U.S. civil-military norms, such as active duty service members participating in the January 6 insurrection, elected officials using the military to score political points, or attitudinal challenges like military or civilian leaders believing they are superior to their respective counterparts, can undermine the ability to impart the right message on the value of professional and healthy civil-military relations in partner nations.
The United States faces competition from revisionist states like Russia and China, who offer "no strings attached" investments in the Sahel. Losing out on cooperative security arrangements in the region can degrade civil-military norms. The U.S. must develop creative ways to compete against malign influencers in the Sahel.
The United States has a long history of exporting military- and security-related services. The status of civil-military relations at home can influence the United States' ability to promote healthy civil-military norms abroad. Recent scholarship by Sharan Grewal found that members of the Tunisian military who trained in the United States were more likely to support members of the military taking an active role in politics by voting or holding office after retirement.
The United States is bound by institutional constraints like the Leahy amendment and coup-related aid restrictions. The Joint Publication 3-20 stresses the "strict legal authorities" in the realm of security cooperation, including the requirement that U.S. activities in this space are designed to enhance the capacity of partners in exercising responsible civilian control of the military. The Joint Center for International Security Force Assistance defines SFA as "the set of DoD activities that support the development of the capacity and capability of foreign security forces and their supporting institutions."
In the most recent survey wave, 50% of Burkinabes, 26% of Malians, and 31% of Nigeriens invoked support for military rule. When asked how much they trust the military, 56% of Burkinabes, 62% of Malians, and 70% of Nigeriens responded with "a lot." In contested theaters across the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa, civil-military relations have been volatile in recent years. The region has witnessed a dramatic resurgence of coups, and Niger's recent putsch has posed a direct threat to U.S. interests in the region.
The series "Rethinking Civ-Mil" presents expert commentary on civil-military relations in the United States. The Wagner Group's future is unclear following the death of its leader. The United States must carefully consider how to promote attitudes that lay the foundation for healthy civil-military relations now and in the future. The diffusion of healthy norms of civil-military relations is critically important to global civil-military relations, as norms do not exist in isolation.
- The escalating politicization of the U.S. military and decline in public trust could potentially compromise the U.S.'s ability to promote healthy civil-military relations abroad, as it may undermine the legitimacy and consistency of its own governance.
- In civil-military relations, clear civilian control and restraint by both military and civilian authorities are essential for maintaining legitimacy and promoting healthy norms, such as those emphasized in Security Force Assistance (SFA) missions.
- Civil-military relations in the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa have been unstable, and SFA is critical for prioritizing civil-military relations, imparting the importance of civilian control, and promoting respect for human rights in recipient countries.
- The United States has a long history of exporting military and security-related services, and the health of its civil-military relations at home can influence its ability to promote healthy civil-military norms abroad.
- In the Sahel, the U.S. faces competition from states like Russia and China, offering "no strings attached" investments. Preserving cooperative security arrangements in the region is crucial to prevent the degradation of civil-military norms and promoting attitudes that support healthy civil-military relations.
