Hegseth Goes to “spear Point” Guam to Prep for War with China

Underwood, Robert; Bettis, Leland; Kuper, Kenneth Gofigan (2025). "Hegseth Goes to "spear Point" Guam to Prep for War with China". Responsible Statecraft. Washington, DC: Quincy Institute.

• Has attachment: File:3FPDFTYI.pdf

Abstract: Policy analysis interpreting U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s visit to Guam as a signal of intensifying preparation for potential conflict with China. The article argues that Guam’s territorial status allows unilateral U.S. military use, making it central to force projection while simultaneously exposing it to heightened risk as a likely missile target. It situates Guam within broader alliance uncertainty, noting that limited commitments from regional partners increase reliance on Guam and nearby islands under distributed operations concepts. The analysis highlights the absence of parallel planning for civilian protection, emphasizing a disconnect between military readiness and human security considerations in U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy.