NATO’s ability to communicate and win in the next conflict is based on the idea of Federated Mission Networking (FMN). The US initiative for the FMN is the Mission Partner Environment (MPE). This framework is built around the use of host nation network infrastructure. Recently, adversarial nations have been investing and developing host nation network infrastructure for NATO allies and partners. China, through companies such as Huawei, is leading the development of next-generation networking technologies. Russia has shown in recent conflicts that it will target a nation’s network infrastructure to achieve its military goals. Russian political strategy is to expand its control over the strategic industries of countries in its sphere of influence. National network infrastructure will be considered strategic in the next conflict. Adversarial access to a host nation’s network infrastructure threatens the MPE and NATO’s ability to operate as a unified alliance. NATO must develop a strategy for a unified response by its member nations to protect their network infrastructures against unsecured network equipment of adversarial countries. NATO should also invest in options to provide secure communications for future mission partners which may have already sold control of their national network infrastructure to an adversary.
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