The current state of geopolitical affairs has radically changed the security environment for both small and large states. A changing strategic security environment has drawn many states, connected by treaty and other cooperative obligations, into conflicts that may appear to be distant from direct national concerns. The nature of many of these conflicts – terrorist tactics, indirect warfare, cyber attacks – has led many of these states to search for and develop different tools for their military toolboxes than had historically been emphasized. These and other changes in national security environments have led both large and small states to increase their dependence on special operations forces (SOF) proportional to other military options. However, smaller resource pools and different positions on the geopolitical stage may lead small states to use SOF differently than they are utilized by large states. This discussion will use a cross-national, comparative approach, looking primarily at the ways in which Sweden and the U.S. have strategically positioned SOF and organizationally configured special operations within their respective militaries. Examples from other states will be used as appropriate.
Panel 10: Special Operations Forces: Control, Missions, and Strategic Considerations