Is the Pentagon ready to confront biological threats?
The DoD plans to increase CBRN training and exercises for the US armed forces. (Photo: USAF)
The Pentagon recently released its Biodefense Posture Review and has also requested over $1 billion in its FY2024 budget proposal to fund capabilities and readiness to face chemical and biological threats.
The interest of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea in biological and chemical weapons alongside issues exposed by the outbreak of COVID-19 have raised questions about whether the US military is prepared to deter this type of threat.
The recently released DoD Biodefense Posture Review (BPR) warns that biological incidents ‘risk undermining DoD’s ability to successfully achieve objectives’ of the National Defense Strategy (NDS).
The paper also noted that ‘developments in biological technology are driving an increase in the scope and diversity of biothreats that DoD could face in the next decade’ and the department ‘must take the threat
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