Stars and Stripes
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reps. August Pfluger, R-Texas, and Dr. Ami Bera, D-Calif., on Friday introduced the Gray Zone Defense Assessment Act along with Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Dean Phillips, D-Minn. This bipartisan legislation directs the United States to develop a playbook to properly counter gray zone aggression and strengthen U.S. national security.
“The future of warfare is evolving,” Pfluger said in a news release. “We risk falling behind the curve if our nation fails to adapt and identify unconventional threats like information warfare, coercive investments and bribery, malign industrial policies, and more. The Gray Zone Defense Act is a critical first step in ensuring that the United States is prepared to assess and counter all threats to our national security.”
“International conflicts in the 21st century have transcended traditional warfare boundaries, as demonstrated by Russia’s persistent disinformation campaigns and the PRC’s use of economic coercion to advance its political objectives,” said Bera in the release. “Yet, the United States lacks a unified strategy to counter these threats, resulting in diminished influence and incentivizing our rivals to continue utilizing such tactics. I’m proud to help introduce the bipartisan Gray Zone Defense Act to equip the United States with the necessary tools to evaluate and deter future nonconventional methods.”
“Our adversaries routinely exploit the gray zone between statecraft and war to achieve their objectives without provoking an overwhelming military response from the United States and our allies. From China’s island building in the South China Sea to Iran’s proxy forces destabilizing the Middle East, the U.S. must strategically plan and execute effective, coordinated responses that span the range of our capabilities,”Issa said. “This legislation does just that by focusing new attention to shoring up our process and capabilities, particularly within the interagency and the State Department. That’s why I’m supporting this important bipartisan effort to enhance our national security.”