COVID-19 National Security Concerns and How to Address Them

National security relies on a variety of forces to remain intact. A capable defense force is the most obvious need, but modern economies also require stable access to essential supplies and vital resources in order to function. However, the coronavirus threatens to sever many of the lifelines that we’ve come to depend upon. Both the public and private sectors are adapting on the fly to counter these dilemmas, but it will take a steady supply of innovative new solutions to keep the nations of the world secure from external and internal threats.

Supply Chain Disruptions

Some of the most obvious problems created by the coronavirus epidemic have been disruptions to global supply chains. Shuttered production facilities are creating widespread product shortages, and closed borders are making it harder to move goods where they need to go. The supply chain disruptions impact virtually every corner of the economy, but some supplies are more important than others.

Medical supplies are essential for combatting an epidemic, but the coronavirus is threatening America’s access to lifesaving drugs and other supplies. There have been severe shortages of protective face masks, disinfectant, hand sanitizer, and other important medical supplies, and the U.S. has struggled to pick up production. Chinese companies supply America with more than 90% of its antibiotics supply and provide a large portion of medical supplies as well. The U.S. depends on foreign powers to supply a large portion of its supply of essential goods, but our dependence on foreign supply chains constitutes a major threat to national security. If these vital supply routes are threatened, it could put the U.S. in a very bad strategic position.

Response
Many U.S. manufacturers are beginning to produce essential supplies to help the country overcome its supply shortages. Many companies voluntarily began producing these goods once the outbreak began, but others have needed a little more encouragement. The Defense Production Act of 1950 is a Korean War-era piece of legislation that allows the government to compel private companies to produce essential goods during times of crisis. President Trump employed the law to force General Motors to start producing ventilator masks in March, and it’s possible that the act could be used more before the crisis is through.

The government is looking to the private sector to help it overcome these shortages, and many of the country’s most innovative thinkers are answering the call. For example, several 3D-printing companies are printing protective face masks and donating them to healthcare facilities. Medtronic Inc. also chipped in by releasing the specs for its ventilator so more companies could start manufacturing them. These kinds of innovative approaches to supply problems can help the nation overcome shortages of essential items.

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