Army Chief Warns Next Conflict May Start on U.S. Soil
General Christopher LaNeve warned that future conflicts with pacing threats could involve attacks on U.S. soil before military forces deploy overseas.
Acting Army Chief of Staff Christopher LaNeve warned that the next major conflict could involve attacks on United States soil before military forces deploy overseas. Speaking at the Association of the United States Army annual conference in Washington, LaNeve stated that power projection will be contested when facing a pacing threat, requiring the military to abandon assumptions made during the Global War on Terror regarding secure home bases and supply lines.
The Pentagon is increasing its focus on homeland defense amid growing concerns over cyber capabilities embedded in critical infrastructure and drone incursions. Recent incidents include drone activity over Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey and Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.
While the military has not publicly attributed these threats to a specific actor, the warnings center on the potential for a conflict with China to disrupt mobilization. LaNeve indicated that such disruptions could occur through the use of biological agents, drone swarms, or cyberattacks designed to hinder the ability of the United States to project power abroad.
