COVID-19’s Potential Implications for the International Security Environment

A report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) provides a brief overview of potential implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international security environment. Some of the issues identified in the report include the U.S.’s relationships with international peers and rivals, the U.S.’s stance toward and budgeting for national security, and the reaction of non-state actors, such as international terrorist and criminal organizations. The views on how the environment will be affected by these issues and the COVID-19 pandemic in general vary, with some arguing that there will be potentially profound and long-lasting effects and others voicing more skepticism. The report also includes a bibliography of CRS reports and other writings for further reading.