The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
The foreign policy challenges Labour can’t ignore
English Summary
Chatham House advises that Labour's new leadership faces complex and unavoidable foreign policy challenges requiring immediate prioritization. The core difficulty lies in balancing competing global demands, specifically integrating defense needs, climate action commitments, and the necessary reset of relations with the EU. Policymakers must simultaneously define Britain’s broader international role while addressing the critical financial challenge of funding these diverse responsibilities.
中文摘要
查塔姆學會建議，工黨新領導層面臨複雜且不可避免的外交政策挑戰，亟需立即加以優先處理。核心難點在於如何平衡相互競爭的全球需求，特別是整合國防需求、氣候行動承諾，以及與歐盟關係必要的重塑。政策制定者必須同步界定英國更廣泛的國際角色，同時也要應對為資助這些多元責任所帶來的關鍵財政挑戰。
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