The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has issued a new threat assessment revealing that China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia are increasingly coordinating efforts to undermine US interests.
A report released on Tuesday identifies China as the primary actor capable of threatening U.S. interests globally while acknowledging that Beijing exercises more caution than its counterparts to protect its economic and diplomatic image.
During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday, Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) highlighted the seriousness of these developments, warning that “many of the threats we face are truly existential.”
He accused Communist China of actively seeking to replace the United States as the world’s dominant superpower.
China’s Growing Influence and Military Pressure
The ODNI report noted that China employs coercive military and economic forces and influences operations to assert dominance while reserving destructive tactics for full-scale conflict.
Beijing is expected to intensify pressure on Taiwan in 2025 as part of its goal to achieve unification with the island. The report also warned that China would continue expanding its claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea, targeting US allies such as Japan and the Philippines.
The report identified China as the “most active and persistent” cyber threat to the US government and the private sector.
It further revealed that Beijing has a national-level strategy designed to surpass the United States as the global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2030.
Russia’s Military Build-up and Alliance with Other US Adversaries
Meanwhile, Russia is rapidly advancing its nuclear force, aiming to create a modern and survivable arsenal designed to bypass US missile defense systems.
According to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Russian President Vladimir Putin remains committed to the war against Ukraine, viewing the conflict as a “proxy conflict with the West.”
The ODNI assessment emphasized that Putin appears willing to pay a “very high price” to achieve victory, seeing the conflict as pivotal in Russia’s strategic competition with the United States. The report noted that most Russian citizens passively support the invasion despite the prolonged war.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that Russia holds the “battlefield advantage” in Ukraine and warned that the Ukrainian resistance continues to face significant challenges.
However, Ratcliffe expressed confidence that Ukrainians would fight with whatever means they have to defend their nation.
Strategic Cooperation Among America’s Adversaries
The ODNI report emphasized growing cooperation between the four adversaries. It noted that China has been supplying economic and security assistance to Russia, providing materials that have bolstered Moscow’s defense industrial base. This support has enabled Russia to sustain its war efforts and endure US sanctions.
In addition, Iran has become a major military supplier to Russia, notably providing UAVs (drones). In return, Moscow has offered military and technical support to enhance Iranian weapon systems, intelligence, and cyber capabilities.
The report further highlighted that North Korea has sent munitions, missiles, and combat troops to aid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Iran’s Nuclear Capabilities and Chemical Research
During the hearing, Gabbard stated that Iran is “not building a nuclear weapon” and that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not authorized the program since its suspension in 2003.
However, she warned that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile is now at its highest recorded levels, a concerning development for a non-nuclear state.
The ODNI report also raised alarms about Iran’s continued research into chemical and biological agents.
Iranian scientists have reportedly shown interest in chemicals that can induce sedation, dissociation, and amnesia, posing both incapacitating and lethal risks.
Threats From Non-State Actors and Criminal Organizations
The assessment also identified rising threats from cartels, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations operating across the Western Hemisphere.
According to Gabbard, these groups are increasingly engaging in illicit activities that endanger the health, welfare, and safety of American citizens.
Over a 12-month period ending in October 2024, cartels were linked to the deaths of more than 54,000 US citizens due to synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl.
Gabbard attributed much of this crisis to Mexico-based transnational criminal organizations.
Renewed Focus on Terror Threats
The ODNI report also addressed a resurgence in foreign-based terror threats following an ISIS-inspired jihadist attack on New Year’s Eve in New Orleans, which claimed 15 lives.
Climate Change Excluded From Report
Notably, this year’s threat assessment omitted any mention of climate change, which had been a staple in previous editions. When questioned, Gabbard stated she was unsure why the section was removed but clarified that she had no recollection of ordering its exclusion.
