Report on the Integration of Human-Centric Warfare and Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

This report analyzes the evolving nature of modern warfare, specifically the emergence of “agentic warfare,” and its implications for United States Army doctrine. It posits that while technological advancements in artificial intelligence and autonomous systems are transforming military operations, the fundamental objective remains influencing human behavior to achieve stable political outcomes. This human-centric approach is critically aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. The analysis concludes that Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) are uniquely positioned to integrate new technologies as force multipliers for missions that directly support global stability, institutional resilience, and human security, thereby contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Human Domain in Modern Warfare: A Cornerstone for SDG 16

The Primacy of Human Factors over Technological Determinism

The advent of agentic warfare, characterized by the convergence of AI and autonomous systems, presents a paradigm shift in military operational capability. However, analysis indicates that the purpose of armed conflict remains intrinsically human: to influence political outcomes and shape human behavior. This perspective underscores that the center of gravity in strategic competition is not technological superiority alone, but the cognitive and social dynamics of populations. This focus on the “human domain” directly supports the aims of SDG 16, which seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

The Strategic Role of Special Operations Forces (ARSOF)

ARSOF’s core competencies are centered on cultural fluency, relationship building, and influence in complex human environments. These capabilities are not replicable by autonomous systems and are more relevant than ever in an era of technological acceleration. The effective deployment of ARSOF contributes to stability by addressing the root causes of conflict, a foundational requirement for achieving all other SDGs.

Core Missions and their Direct Contribution to the 2030 Agenda

ARSOF’s foundational missions of Unconventional Warfare (UW) and Foreign Internal Defense (FID) are fundamentally aligned with key SDG targets. These missions represent a strategic commitment to fostering environments where sustainable development can occur.

Foreign Internal Defense (FID): Building Strong Institutions and Partnerships

FID operations support the sovereignty and institutional capacity of partner nations against internal and external threats. This mission directly contributes to:

• SDG 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
• SDG 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. FID is an embodiment of building partnerships to achieve common security and development objectives.

Unconventional Warfare (UW): Supporting Self-Determination and Inclusive Societies

UW enables populations to resist authoritarian control and pursue political self-determination. When conducted in accordance with international law, this mission supports:

• SDG 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
• SDG 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

By empowering local actors to establish legitimate governance, UW helps create the preconditions for a stable society where development goals such as SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) can be pursued.

Recommendations for Doctrine and Training Aligned with Sustainable Development

To effectively navigate the future security environment, ARSOF must integrate agentic capabilities while reinforcing its human-centric special warfare competencies. The following recommendations are proposed to ensure this evolution supports global stability and aligns with the SDGs.

1. Institutionalize Human-Centric Doctrine: Prioritize UW and FID in doctrine, leader development, and resource allocation, recognizing their direct impact on fostering the peaceful and inclusive societies envisioned in SDG 16.
2. Invest in Influence and Governance Capabilities: Enhance psychological operations, civil affairs, and information operations as core competencies. These capabilities are essential for building trust, establishing legitimacy, and supporting the development of effective governance, which are critical enablers for all SDGs.
3. Promote Ethical Technology Integration: Educate the force on the ethical application of AI and autonomous systems. Training must focus on fusing technology with deep human terrain understanding to ensure operations strengthen, rather than undermine, human rights and the rule of law. This aligns with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by promoting resilient and ethical innovation.
4. Recommit to a Holistic Approach: Reinforce a strategic focus on governance, influence, and support to indigenous forces and populations. This approach ensures that military activities are nested within broader political objectives that promote long-term stability and human security.

Conclusion: A Future of Warfare Aligned with Human Security

The evolution toward agentic warfare does not diminish the importance of the human element; it elevates it. The ultimate objective of military strategy is not the domination of machines, but the establishment of a lasting and just peace. By leading the integration of technology as a multiplier for human-centric operations, ARSOF can play a decisive role in shaping a global security environment conducive to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The will of people to live in peaceful, just, and prosperous societies remains the final objective, a goal that can only be secured through a sophisticated understanding of the human domain.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article is fundamentally about the nature of warfare and its ultimate purpose, which it defines as influencing “human behavior and political outcomes.” This directly connects to the core themes of SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
• The discussion on Foreign Internal Defense (FID) focuses on supporting the “sovereignty of partner nations” and strengthening their “institutional resilience,” which are key components of building strong institutions (Target 16.6).
• The justification for Unconventional Warfare (UW) is to enable “the right to self-determination of peoples under authoritarian control” and help them “seek political freedom.” This aligns with the goal of fostering just, inclusive, and representative societies (Target 16.7).

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

   • The article explicitly states that Foreign Internal Defense (FID) “strengthens the institutional resilience of allies and helps inoculate them against gray zone aggression.” This mission is described as a cornerstone of strategic competition, directly contributing to the development and strengthening of national institutions in partner nations.

2. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

   • The article defines Unconventional Warfare (UW) as a mission that “enables the right to self-determination of peoples under authoritarian control.” It frames UW as “the means by which the oppressed can resist domination and seek political freedom.” This directly supports the principle of establishing representative governance based on the will of the people, a core aspect of this target. The article reinforces this by linking to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, specifically Article 21, which states that the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government.

3. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels… to prevent violence and combat terrorism…

   • The mission of Foreign Internal Defense (FID) is presented as a form of international cooperation where U.S. forces support “the sovereignty of partner nations threatened by internal instability or external subversion.” This is a direct example of strengthening national institutions to prevent conflict and instability. The author’s own background, having “commanded the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines during the war on terrorism,” further illustrates this connection.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Indicator for Target 16.6: The resilience of a partner nation’s institutions against external subversion and internal instability.

   • The article implies that the success of FID can be measured by the ability of an allied nation’s institutions to remain stable and effective when faced with “gray zone aggression” or “external subversion” from revisionist powers. A reduction in instability and the successful defense of sovereignty would indicate progress.

2. Indicator for Target 16.7: The establishment of political freedom and self-determination in formerly authoritarian regions.

   • The article suggests that the effectiveness of Unconventional Warfare can be measured by whether an oppressed population successfully achieves “political freedom” and exercises its “right to self-determination.” The replacement of an authoritarian regime with a more representative form of government would be a clear indicator of progress toward this target.

3. Indicator for Target 16.a: The capacity of a partner nation to independently counter threats to its stability and sovereignty.

   • Progress toward this target is implied by the successful outcome of FID missions, where a partner nation becomes “inoculated” against subversion. An indicator would be the enhanced ability of that nation’s own forces and institutions to manage internal and external threats without collapsing or requiring perpetual external support.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nationalsecurityjournal.org