Global Military Shifts: Ideology, Deterrence, and Modernization

Balancing Internal Policy Debates with Strategic Global Posturing

The confirmation of Matthew Lohmeier as Air Force undersecretary on July 24, 2025, by a 52-46 Senate vote reflects a U.S. push to eliminate “woke” policies, with Lohmeier, a former Space Force officer fired for criticizing diversity initiatives, tasked to restore traditional military focus under President Trump’s directive.

Concurrently, Taiwan’s Han Kuang 41 exercise, concluding July 18, showcased its “porcupine strategy” with U.S.-supplied systems like HIMARS and Abrams tanks, aiming to deter Chinese aggression through enhanced asymmetric warfare, though delays in weapons deliveries and limited regional interoperability highlight gaps.

The U.S. shift in tech policy, easing AI chip exports to China, signals a pragmatic trade approach but risks undermining strategic containment.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s acquisition of South African Assegaai artillery rounds strengthens NATO’s capabilities amid global ammunition shortages, Morocco’s naval upgrades with Israeli missiles enhance Mediterranean security, and Hungary’s stalled military deployment to Chad underscores regional complexities.

Chinese peacekeepers’ UN drills and U.S. contractor Berry Aviation’s Libyan surveillance flights further illustrate a global landscape balancing ideological battles, deterrence, and technological modernization.