Pandemics and Bioweapons: A Path for the Biden Administration

The Council on Strategic Risks advocates for a long-term U.S. strategy to make biological weapons obsolete by integrating pandemic preparedness with bioweapon deterrence. The authors propose a system of real-time early warning and rapid response capabilities, leveraging existing COVID-19 investments and Department of Defense leadership to create a disease-defense ecosystem that serves both public health and national security interests.

• The COVID-19 pandemic may increase the perceived strategic value of biological weapons for nations seeking the benefits of weapons of mass destruction due to the pandemic's ability to devastate great powers like the United States.
• To make biological weapons obsolete, the U.S. requires a coherent vision comprising strong national preparedness, real-time early warning for emerging infectious diseases, and rapid response capabilities integrated into the national economy.
• The U.S. should ensure that billions of dollars invested in COVID-19 responses are designed to be permanent parts of a preparedness and rapid-response ecosystem, specifically maintaining and expanding successful government-funded vaccine development and manufacturing methods.
• The Department of Defense and the Pentagon should lead efforts against biological threats to deter potential actors, noting that DARPA's investments in Moderna's vaccine development capabilities contributed to a promising COVID-19 vaccine.

APA

The Council on Strategic Risks (2020). Pandemics and Bioweapons: A Path for the Biden Administration. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/11/19/pandemics-and-bioweapons-a-path-for-the-biden-administration/

Chicago

The Council on Strategic Risks. Pandemics and Bioweapons: A Path for the Biden Administration. 2020. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/11/19/pandemics-and-bioweapons-a-path-for-the-biden-administration/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=The Council on Strategic Risks |title=Pandemics and Bioweapons: A Path for the Biden Administration |date=19 November 2020 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/11/19/pandemics-and-bioweapons-a-path-for-the-biden-administration/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{thecouncilonstrategicrisks2020pandemics, author = {{The Council on Strategic Risks}}, title = {{Pandemics and Bioweapons: A Path for the Biden Administration}}, publisher = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2020}, month = nov, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/11/19/pandemics-and-bioweapons-a-path-for-the-biden-administration/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }