In this essay for The Atlantic, Elliot Ackerman argues that the war in Ukraine has exposed a critical American vulnerability: a fragile supply chain no longer built around national defense.
From semiconductor production to economic dependence on China, Ackerman examines how globalization, offshoring, and short-term profit incentives have weakened America’s ability to mobilize in a crisis.
Supply Chains and National Defense
Ackerman traces the problem from post-Cold War demobilization to the modern dependence on foreign manufacturing for technologies essential to military readiness and strategic competition.
Semiconductors, China, and Taiwan
The essay focuses on the national-security risk posed by reliance on Taiwan and China for advanced chips used in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and defense systems.
Economic Warfare and Industrial Mobilization
At its center, the piece argues that the United States must rebuild its manufacturing base and align public and private incentives before a future crisis exposes vulnerabilities more severe than those seen in Ukraine.