Hybrid warfare in US strategy: A Comparative Analysis of the Trump and Biden Administrations and the Challenges of the 21st Century

Abstract

This article examines the evolution of the U.S. hybrid warfare strategy and provides a comparative analysis of the approaches of the Donald Trump administrations (first and second terms) and the Joe Biden administration in the context of 21st-century security challenges. It is established that hybrid warfare, combining military, informational, cyber, and economic instruments of influence, has become a central element of both U.S. national and global security. The study analyzes how the Trump administration during its first term employed a pragmatic and transactional approach to “gray-zone” conflicts, emphasizing sanctions, targeted technological restrictions, and limited support for allies, particularly Ukraine. The second term of Trump is characterized by increased attention to domestic security, cyber defense, informational deterrence, and preemptive asymmetric measures against major rival states. In contrast, the Biden administration is shown to implement a comprehensive coalition-based model, focused on close coordination with NATO and the EU, the integration of cyber and informational tools, the support of critical infrastructure, and personnel preparedness, ensuring preventive counteraction to hybrid threats, including Russian attacks against Ukraine. The article considers practical cases of U.S. engagement with Ukraine, as well as strategies for deterring China and responding to cyber threats in the global context. It analyzes recent studies and publications addressing hybrid warfare, informational operations, cyber security, and the role of allies, highlighting unresolved issues such as the effectiveness of different “whole-of-government” models, the integration of technological instruments, and the impact of emerging technologies on hybrid conflicts. The findings substantiate that the U.S. hybrid warfare strategy in the 21st century is evolving toward complexity, adaptability, and technological superiority, combining military, economic, informational, and diplomatic instruments. This enables the United States to respond effectively to gray-zone conflicts, maintain strategic advantage on a global scale, and coordinate actions with allied partners.