The Pentagon is seeking more leeway from Congress to better use its special operators to support US-friendly nations, including preparing Taiwan for Chinese aggression.
Today, special operators are limited in the type of training and equipment they can provide to partner forces. If a program doesn’t fight terrorism or drugs or ensure border security, US commandos don’t have much to offer. But under the new proposal, US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) would be able to train and equip foreign partners for resistance and advanced external defense (FID) missions focused on countering potential future threats.
A Pentagon proposal to Congress in April specifically mentioned Taiwan and the Baltic nations, stressing the need for forces there to be prepared to “resist invasion or occupation by a hostile power” and to protect the nation and its people from “foreign-sponsored subversion a country that poses a significant threat to the existing government,” per a report from Defense News highlighting challenges posed by China and Russia.
New powers for special operators
In America’s Last War, special operations forces were the preferred option for military commanders and politicians. Fighting insurgents and terrorists in the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria was ideal for special operations forces. But in the potential future large-scale conflict against China or Russia, special operators are expected to return to a role of supporting conventional military forces.
Green Berets in close combat training. the US Army
One of the most valuable capabilities of the US special operations community is its ability to train and equip others to fight. The struggle may be against an oppressive government or against a rebel group that threatens a legitimate government.
For example, during the early days of the global war on terror, US Army Green Berets and CIA paramilitary officers linked up with Afghan Northern Alliance fighters to drive out the Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists in just a few weeks. Similarly, in Central and South America, the Green Berets trained local militaries to repel communist insurgents.
In the context of Taiwan facing enormous pressure and threats from neighboring China, extending powers to train Taiwan’s conventional and special forces in addition, irregular missions will increase their deterrence capabilities and could even matter in a potential conflict.
“One of our primary missions is FID, or foreign internal defense,” an Army Special Forces operator who serves in the National Guard told Business Insider.
“We work with partner forces and train them. Expanding our powers beyond counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics will free up our hands and help us better prepare our partners, whether that’s in Taiwan or Ukraine,” added the Green Beret, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not was authorized to speak to the media.
Green Beret in Combat Marksmanship Training. the US Army
Army Green Berets are ideal for such missions. They receive language and cultural training that will make them warrior-diplomats. They can operate alone or in small teams, helping to train and lead large partner forces into battle.
Allowing the Green Berets and Marine Raiders, two types of U.S. forces that specialize in training foreign partners, to work with their Taiwanese counterparts in resistance operations could increase Taiwan’s chances of defending itself against a Chinese invasion.
If it decides to forcefully unite with the small but recalcitrant island nation, Beijing is likely to strike hard and fast. It will likely want to avoid becoming embroiled in a protracted battle like Russia’s in Ukraine, or to give the US and others in the West time to react. The Chinese military will use everything at its disposal, including special operations forces and intelligence agents. But a Taiwanese military trained in resistance operations will be more difficult to defeat.
“I understand the existing restrictions. The Resistance and FID skill sets can be used by malicious players to overthrow legitimate governments and cause all kinds of instability in a region. But, if used as intended, they are a great way to fight a large force,” the Green Beret told BI.