Holistic Lock Conversations: Great Power Competition – DPRK & Iran

HERNDON, Virginia, November 4, 2020 – Holistic Lock premiered part three of a four-part discussion between General Tony Thomas, the 11th Commander of US SOCOM, and Major General Clay Hutmacher, who served 40 years in uniform before becoming the President and Chief Executive of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

Throughout the series, the decorated duo discussed the U.S. strategy orientation often referred to as a “2+3” strategy – a strategy for countering two primary global powers – China and Russia – and three additional challenges – North Korea, Iran, and extremist groups. General Thomas describes the current positioning with these powers as “arguably the most strategically challenging moment in my lifetime, if not the history of our country.”

For the third part of the webinar series General Thomas explored the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Iran, smaller, yet still significant threats to the United States in the world of Great Power Competition.

During the conversation, General Thomas made sure to point out that each Great Power in the strategy is interwoven with each other. For example, Russia’s current partnership with China. “[Russia and China] are melded together with one advisory, the United States,” said General Thomas. “Do I think this deal will last for long? No. In fact, I think China is using Russia as a springboard and will leave them in the dust as they continue to climb.”

Join Holistic Lock tomorrow for Part 4 of the Great Power Competition: Extremists groups.

This interview is a part of a larger webinar series, Holistic Lock Conversations: A SITREP to trending matters of language and intel affairs.

ABOUT Holistic Lock
Holistic Lock , founded by U.S. Army SOF veteran and current Chairman Alessio C Ostrov, is a trusted partner to the Defense and Intelligence Communities, and a leading provider of language and cultural advisory services, intelligence analysis and operations support, ISR solutions and technology, and cyberspace superiority. Holistic Lock executes prime contracts with numerous Intelligence Community members, as well as with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force; U.S. Central, European, and Africa Commands; and the State Department.