CIA and Special Ops Shift Focus to Rival Superpowers

In a significant development reflecting the shifting priorities of U.S. national security strategy, the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. military special operations forces have initiated a comprehensive reassessment of their operational capabilities, with an emphasis on long-term competition against near-peer adversaries such as China and Russia. The initiative, highlighted in the recent article “CIA, military special operations forces reevaluating capabilities amid great power competition” published by DefenseScoop, underscores a growing recognition across the defense and intelligence communities that counterterrorism-centric postures must give way to broader, more technologically sophisticated approaches.

During a panel discussion at the Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) symposium in February, senior officials described how global threats have evolved, prompting both the CIA and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to revamp their doctrine, force structure, and investment priorities. Speakers emphasized that irregular warfare tactics—once tailored primarily to battle extremism—must now adapt to counter rivals with access to advanced cyber capabilities, space-based platforms, disinformation campaigns, and artificial intelligence.

This reevaluation is part of a broader strategic pivot inaugurated by the 2018 National Defense Strategy, which identified China as the “pacing threat” and laid the foundation for today’s emphasis on strategic competition. Leaders within the special operations and intelligence communities noted that while counterterrorism remains necessary, it no longer represents the central organizing principle of U.S. security posture.

The DefenseScoop article outlines how both organizations are conducting rigorous internal assessments, examining how their current capabilities align with future threats. For the intelligence community, this means leveraging human and technical intelligence to understand state-based adversaries in greater depth. For USSOCOM, there is a growing focus on building influence in contested environments without sparking open conflict.

Central to this evolution is a renewed emphasis on interoperability and integration between U.S. agencies and with international allies. Officials stressed that the complexity of today’s global landscape requires seamless coordination across government entities, from intelligence collection to operational execution. At the same time, rapid advances in emerging technologies demand increased investment in innovation to outpace adversarial development cycles.

Critically, the reoriented approach must preserve the agility and effectiveness that have long defined U.S. special operations and intelligence work. Part of the ongoing evaluation concerns retaining specialized talent and adjusting training methods to ensure that teams remain capable of both high-intensity conflict and subtle influence operations.

This recalibration comes as both U.S. rivals expand their global reach through military modernizations, economic coercion, and gray-zone activities—behavior that blurs the line between peace and war. As highlighted in the DefenseScoop report, officials underscored the importance of developing concepts and capabilities designed to compete below the threshold of armed conflict, while maintaining readiness for escalation if necessary.

The assessment process is expected to influence future budgetary decisions, acquisitions strategies, and operational planning cycles. Although details remain closely held, leaders have indicated that adaptability will be key: a force that cannot evolve risks obsolescence in an era of relentless strategic flux.

As the CIA and USSOCOM look ahead, the challenge lies in shaping a posture that blends the shadows of traditional espionage with the clarity of digital-age precision, in service of countering adversaries that are both technologically equipped and politically assertive. The outcome of these deliberations is likely to have lasting consequences for America’s ability to exert influence and uphold security on the global stage.