Fortifying America: Is the Pentagon Ready?

Henry Sokolski

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Soon, the Pentagon will release its National Security Strategy. It’s rumored to rank homeland security as priority one. Enforcing immigration controls, defending America against missile attacks, and countering narco-terrorist operations are sure to get mission plus-ups.

None of this, though, will be enough: in addition, the Pentagon will have to double down on defending America’s critical civilian infrastructure. A quick scan of recent headlines overseas explains why and affords a solid peek of what we’re in for.

Last week, drones overflew major airports in Copenhagen and Oslo. A ransomware attack disrupted passenger security screening systems in Berlin, London, Brussels, and Dublin, shutting down operations throughout the weekend.

These assaults on Europe’s air transport system align with several years of suspicious train derailments and telecom and electrical supply system cable cuts in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the Baltic Sea. Two major train derailments have occurred along the Malmbanan iron ore line which connects Norway, Sweden, and the Baltic Sea near Finland and Estonia – a prime target for Russian sabotage.

Since 2022, ten subsea cables connecting Baltic Sea states, including several telecom cables and one power cable, have been cut, with seven cuts occurring between November 2024 and January 2025. China and Russia are the suspected perpetrators. Halfway around the world, Taiwan is suffering repeated telecom cable cuts as well. Beijing is suspect.

Well above sea level, Russia has been jamming satellite telecom links in Ukraine and GPS signals for civilian aircraft in Europe. Russian electronic warfare bases, particularly in Kaliningrad, have been directly linked to widespread GPS interference affecting Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the surrounding Baltic Sea.

Then, there are cyber attacks that have locked up medical facilities’ electronic systems throughout Europe and Asia, paralyzing the helping hand of healthcare. A 2025 survey found that three quarters of the hospitals in the EU have been attacked in the last twelve months. Hospitals in Asia have been hit even harder.