Water Scarcity: United States National Security

Water scarcity is a transnational challenge with implications for both international stability and the United States national security interests. This challenge is a subcategory of climate change with present and near term influences on international stability. The repercussions of water scarcity currently tender a direct threat to United States allies and national security interests. There is an overwhelming potential for water scarcity to impact United States national security interests related to the global economic system. The international challenge of water scarcity is a threat multiplier with the potential to distress the entire global community. Climate change, which comprises water scarcity, includes, “Climate, weather, resource, and energy-related issues that have cross-border or trans-border implications for people, governments, or international …show more content…
There is potential that water scarcity, “…will aggravate existing problems—such as poverty, social tensions, environmental degradation, ineffectual leadership, and weak political institutions—that threaten domestic stability in a number of countries.” “U.S. PROSPERITY and national security depend directly on the prosperity and stability of our partner countries and competing countries around the world.” The propensity for water scarcity to exasperate existing difficulties and destabilize governments will negatively impact the security, confidence, and reliability of United States allies. Potentially, water scarcity could cause the United States to allocate nation powers and resources to assist allies instead of addressing other United States security interests. The impacts of water scarcity will have an additional significant implication on the United States national security