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.
Strength in Unity: Climate Action for the Pacific Islands
English Summary
Pacific Island Countries (PICs) successfully leverage multilateral institutions to amplify their collective voice and drive critical climate diplomacy, despite facing existential threats from sea-level rise and natural disasters. However, their efforts are hampered by slow, complex climate finance mechanisms and limited diplomatic resources. The analysis argues that meeting the climate challenge requires broadening support beyond climate aid to include sustained global partnership, as the stability of the Pacific is a critical strategic interest for major external powers. Therefore, global partners must integrate climate action into broader security and development strategies to ensure a resilient and sovereign region.
中文摘要
太平洋島國（PICs）成功利用多邊機構擴大其集體聲音，推動關鍵的氣候外交，儘管面臨海平面上升和自然災害帶來的生存威脅。然而，其努力受到氣候融資機制緩慢複雜和外交資源有限的制約。本分析指出，要應對氣候挑戰，必須將支持範圍擴大至超越氣候援助，納入持續的全球夥伴關係，因為太平洋的穩定性對主要外部大國而言是一項關鍵的戰略利益。因此，全球夥伴必須將氣候行動整合到更廣泛的安全與發展戰略中，以確保該地區能夠保持韌性與主權。
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