U.S. Army Gen. Bryan P. Fenton, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, highlighted the cooperation among adversarial nations and nonstate actors, and called for decisive action in the face of increasing complex global security threats at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California on Saturday.
Fenton detailed how partnerships between Russia, Iran, North Korea and China are reshaping the international security landscape — specifically with regard to the present conflict in Ukraine. Fenton explained how these alliances provide adversaries with a dangerous synergy. “This is not just Russia fighting Ukraine,” Fenton said. “It’s Russia, backed by Iranian drones, North Korean personnel and indirect Chinese contributions.”
The general cited Iran’s transfer of “material solutions” — like its Shahed 136 drones and Fath 360 ballistic missiles — to Russia as a prime example. The Fath 360 missiles, which can strike targets up to 75 miles away, enhance Russia’s ability to sustain its war effort while preserving its long-range arsenal.
Fenton’s example echoed similar concerns voiced by the Defense Department in recent months. In October, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed that Iran has trained Russian personnel to operate its munitions, solidifying the growing military ties between the two nations.
“The concerning aspect of this,” Ryder said, “is the developing relationship between Russia and Iran. It’s reasonable to expect that this missile delivery will not be a one-time event.” He continued, noting that Russia’s partnerships with nations like Iran and North Korea often involve exchanges of intelligence and technology, further deepening their strategic alignment.
North Korea’s increasing role in the conflict adds another dimension to this adversarial convergence. During a Nov. 4 press briefing, Ryder reported that more than 12,000 North Korean troops deployed to Russia’s Kursk Oblast, to train in combat tactics alongside Russian forces. These troops replaced Russian personnel depleted by heavy casualties in Ukraine.
Fenton expanded on the implications of these alliances, stressing that the convergence of state and nonstate actors represents a fundamental shift in the character of warfare. He noted that Ukraine’s innovative use of drones and artificial intelligence to counter these threats represents a “revolutionary” approach worth emulating. The general urged the department to scale similar technologies, emphasizing the need for affordable and scalable solutions.
“We need tools that impose costs on adversaries without draining our resources,” Fenton said, pointing to Ukraine’s production of millions of drones as a model for how smaller systems can effectively challenge larger forces.
Fenton also called for stronger collaboration between the military and private industry. He praised Socom’s ability to quickly adapt to battlefield needs through partnerships with defense companies but emphasized the need to expand these efforts across the department. “Our modernization priorities must be clear, and we need to bring industry closer to the problem,” he said.
Despite these challenges, the general expressed optimism in America’s ability to counter these emerging threats through its own global partnerships. He highlighted multinational military exercises like the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, which integrates allied forces to enhance readiness and interoperability. “Our allies bring unique capabilities that, combined with ours, create a powerful force multiplier,” he noted.
In his closing remarks, Fenton urged policymakers to adopt a whole-of-nation approach to security. He emphasized the importance of innovation, bipartisan support and public understanding of the threats posed by adversarial blocs. “We’re in a decisive decade,” he said. “The convergence of threats demands a convergence of our own capabilities.”
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