The world is facing uncertainty. Problems and dangers can be easily identified: Russia’s War in Ukraine, a nuclear-capable Iran, a rising China, conflict with Israel and Palestine in the Middle East, along with America’s border crisis, inflation, crime rates, and fentanyl death toll – all while the future of Western democracy is on the ballot in November. In the middle of such uncertainty, solutions can also be identified.
Wargaming is a practical deterrent that provides peace through strategy. Typically, and historically, wargaming is thought of as exclusive to the military. Wargaming, however, offers much more than operational and tactical training and exercises. Wargaming is the strategic thought piece that allows leaders from the private sector, government, and academia to collaboratively define challenges, discuss complexities, determine creative solutions, and decide courses of action amid chaos.
Wargaming demands differing viewpoints, and expertise has a seat at the table to provide peace and prevent conflict. Military responses and capabilities are a deterrent and show of force that utilizes “peace through strength,” as first quipped by Roman Emperor Hadrian and famously accredited to former President Ronald Reagan. Diplomatic and private-sector research and development are instruments of power that provide “peace through strategy.” Wargaming allows whole-of-government and private-sector support that can both stabilize and collaboratively unite America and its partners in preparedness against current geopolitical complexities.
Defending Our Country, (DOC), LLC created the U.S. Congressional Wargaming Working Group. A group of the nation’s top experts spent a year examining the authorization and spending priorities for the next presidential administration and its two classes of Congress, incoming 119th (2025 – 2026) and midterm 120th (2027 – 2028). “This report aims to guide members and their staff to productively visualize and discuss intentional solutions and directed policy strategies in a complex geopolitical environment.”
The DOC U.S. Congressional Wargaming Working Group determined and defined the War on Talent, Innovation, and Preparedness (T.I.P.) is the framing focus in looking ahead to resolve tensions in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, and Africa. By investing in and preparing American students, increasing research and development globally, and incentivizing the private sector, the hurdles of today are opportunities for the nation to soar in the midst of chaos.
The DOC report concludes, “The U.S. Congress’s connection to their districts and constituencies, who are the warfighters, manufacturers, innovators, and students, feeds the pipeline of research, development, and workforce solutions. This is a critical thought piece and opportunity for policymakers to empower and effectively engage America and its partners within the next four years.”
The next president and administration, along with Congress, has an opportunity to bolster the American resolve with strategic and intentional solutions to reconcile the tension domestically and abroad. Wargaming allows leaders, from across a whole-government approach, (including the private sector) to discuss pressing problems while developing incentives and pipelines of innovation to secure national interests.
Congress holds the power of the purse, and it is the people’s house. While there is tremendous importance in America’s choice to elect its next -president, the authorizations and appropriations that are maintained, developed, and funded will have long-term ramifications for the nation far beyond the next presidential cycle. Voters should support elected officials that can bipartisanly govern and legislate once a nominee leaves the campaign trail.
At a time when many around the world are living in fear of an uncertain future, wargaming is a resource that leadership must utilize. To have successful outcomes requires competent leaders in the seats of service to our nation. If political nominees, non-withstanding party affiliation, cannot discuss pressing issues and present plans of governance on the campaign trail, these leaders do not warrant having a seat at the strategic level of the wargaming table – much less in the White House or Congress.
Wargaming forces difficult conversations to bridge the gap of information and allow voices to be heard at a strategic level. These conversations frame practical and logical responses for our nation and partners. Wargaming provides inspired hope and advantageous opportunities to think ahead versus respond to risks.
Peace through strategy can be attained and is discovered through wargaming – not war. American leadership can unite again, at the strategic level, to intentionally plan and prepare for a better tomorrow.