Former US national security adviser warns conflict lacks clear strategic objective despite tactical military success
Former US national security adviser Jake Sullivan has warned that the Trump administration’s ongoing war with Iran risks drifting without a clearly defined strategic objective, even as American forces continue to demonstrate strong operational performance on the battlefield.
Speaking on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, Sullivan praised the professionalism and capability of the US military but said the broader purpose of the conflict remains uncertain more than a week after hostilities began.
“On the encouraging side, the US military is just simply remarkable,” Sullivan said during the interview. “It’s remarkable at being able to achieve tactical objectives and execute operations with skill, professionalism and courage.”
However, he cautioned that military success on the ground does not necessarily translate into a coherent long-term strategy.
“The discouraging part is we are asking the US military to put itself in harm’s way, and we’ve already lost six service members, pointed towards a completely unclear objective,” he said.
Sullivan argued that the administration has yet to articulate a clear end state for the conflict. According to him, officials have provided multiple and sometimes conflicting explanations for why the war was launched and what it is ultimately meant to achieve.
“The administration has not been able to say with any clarity whatsoever what the ultimate goal of this war is,” he said, adding that the rationale appears to shift frequently.
The former national security adviser warned that such ambiguity could undermine both military planning and political support.
“To have that level of muddiness, that muddle, is a huge challenge,” Sullivan said. “It suggests that this war got launched without being fully thought through.”
He also expressed concern that the Trump administration might draw the wrong conclusions from earlier US military operations, particularly a special forces raid in Venezuela that had been cited as a model for swift intervention.
“President Trump is going to draw the wrong lesson from this,” Sullivan said. “He’s going to think we can use military force anywhere, anytime, for any purpose, and it will all work out just fine.”
Beyond the immediate battlefield, Sullivan warned that the conflict could reshape global geopolitics in ways that benefit US adversaries.
He pointed specifically to Russia, suggesting Moscow may gain both economically and strategically from the war. Rising global oil prices could boost Russian revenues, while Washington’s focus on the Middle East might reduce resources available to support Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
“One of the big winners in all of this is Vladimir Putin and Russia,” Sullivan said.
He also argued that the war could weaken Ukraine’s position at a critical moment.
“At a moment when President Trump could have come in with massive support for Ukraine, he decided instead to launch this massive adventure in the Middle East,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan further warned that China may interpret the conflict as a signal that major powers can increasingly use force without significant international consequences.
According to him, Beijing could see the situation as evidence that the United States and its allies may be less capable of deterring military action elsewhere.
“The larger strategic lesson is that we’re in a new era of geopolitics where big countries can act with force without reference to international law,” Sullivan said.
He added that such perceptions could embolden China in its long-standing dispute over Taiwan.
“I think this is going to make them believe they have a greater window to be able to use military force against Taiwan,” Sullivan said.
Tags: US politics, Trump Iran war, Jake Sullivan, US foreign policy, Russia China geopolitics, Middle East conflict
